Lab 6: PreLab Simulation
Team #______
Name _____________________________
Go to http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/circuit-construction-kit-dc. Run the simulation.
PART I: Series circuit
1. Construct the circuit shown. The value of all
elements can be seen by right clicking on the
element. You will have default values when
you first build the circuit.
R1
Battery
Look at the direction of moving of the little
blue dots. What do they represent? Explain
your reasoning.
R2
2. Move the probes on the voltmeter to measure ΔV across R1 and then across R2 and then across the
Battery.
∆𝑉𝑅1 =
Compare the values. Is this what is expected?
Why?
∆𝑉𝑅2 =
∆𝑉𝐵𝑎𝑡 =
3. The ammeter can be moved to other places in the circuit. Build a circuit and place the ammeter
between R1 and R2. Compare its reading to the reading in the original location. Explain.
4. Now change the value of R1 to 20 ohms by right clicking and typing in a new value. How does this
affect the current? Explain.
5. Again move the probes on the voltmeter to measure ΔV across R1 and then across R2 and then
across the Battery.
∆𝑉𝑅1 =
∆𝑉𝑅2 =
∆𝑉𝐵𝑎𝑡 =
Compare the values. Is this what is
expected? Why? How does this compare
to what you found in #2?
Lab 6: PreLab Simulation
Team #______
Name _____________________________
PART II: Parallel circuit
1. Construct the circuit shown. Make sure
that your circuit elements are reset to
default values.
2. Move the probes on the voltmeter to
measure ΔV across R1 and then across
R2 and then across the Battery.
R2
Battery
∆𝑉𝑅1 =
∆𝑉𝑅2 =
∆𝑉𝐵𝑎𝑡 =
Compare the values. Is this what is
expected? Why?
3. The ammeter can be moved to other places in the circuit. Build a circuit and place the ammeter at
another location where the reading will be the same. Sketch where you placed it.
4. Now add two more ammeters, one to measure the current through R1 and another to measure the
current through R2. Give their readings below.
𝐼𝑅1 =
𝐼𝑅2 =
Compare the values. Is this what is
expected? Why?
𝐼𝐵𝑎𝑡 =
5. Now change the value of R1 to 20 ohms.
How does this affect the current? Explain.
How does this affect the voltage across it? Explain.
6. Record all the currents with the new value of R1.
𝐼𝑅1 =
𝐼𝑅2 =
Compare the values. Is this what is expected?
Why?
𝐼𝐵𝑎𝑡 =
How does this compare to what you found in #4?
Explain.
Lab 6: PreLab Simulation
Team #______
Name _____________________________
PART III: Combined circuit
1.
Create the following circuit in the simulation.
2. Solve the circuit and find
the voltage across R2 and
across R3. Find the
current through R2 and
through R3.
∆𝑉𝑅2 =
∆𝑉𝑅3 =
𝐼𝑅2 =
𝐼𝑅3 =
3. Add a voltmeter to measure the voltage across R2 and an ammeter to measure the current
through R2. Show your placement of the meters. Compare to your calculations and correct if
necessary.
4. Add a voltmeter to measure the voltage across R3 and an ammeter to measure the current
through R3. Show your placement of the meters. Compare to your calculations and correct if
necessary.