Circuit Sims 1
Name ______________________________________________ Date _________ Period ______
After reading the lab, create your own purpose below:
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Wouldn’t it be great to see inside wires and electrical devices, to actually watch the electrons flow? This simulation allows us to do this. In this simulation, you will build simple and compound circuits and measure their potential (voltage), current, and resistance.
Additionally, you will view the actions of electrons in an AC circuit.
Using the Site

Access the site by either clicking on the link: http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/circuit-construction-kit-ac or by following:
Classes > Science > fanelli_physics > circuit-construction-kit-ac_en.jar

To add elements to your circuits, simply drag an item into the work area.

To remove an item or change it, right-click the item you wish to change.

To uncouple two circuit elements, right click on the circular junction and choose
“split junction.”
 Use the “Non-Contact Ammeter” to measure the current in wires.
Part 1 – Short Circuits
1.
Construct a series DC circuit with two light bulbs and a battery.
2.
Connect a wire across the circuit so that it bypasses all of the light bulbs.
3.
Repeat this test for a parallel circuit with two bulbs and a battery.
A Part 2 – Compound Circuits
4.
Build the circuit to the right with two batteries.
5.
Use the voltmeter and non-contact ammeter to measure the voltage across each bulb, as well as the current across each B bulb. Record in Table 1.
6.
Place a switch between bulbs B and C where the arrow indicates and answer the questions below.
Part 3 – AC Circuits
7.
Build a series circuit with two light bulbs and 1 AC Voltage Source. Observe the flow of electrons in an AC circuit.
8.
Attempt to short the AC circuit by bypassing the light bulb.
9.
Repeat Part 3 with a two bulb parallel circuit.
C

Circuit Sims 2
Part 2 – Compound Circuits
Table 1 – Compound Circuit Measurements
Total Circuit Bulb 1 Bulb 2 Bulb 3
Voltage (V)
Current (A)
Part 1 – Short Circuits
1.
What happens to the battery and lights in short circuit? Why does this happen? Why are short circuits so dangerous?
2.
Were your observations in the parallel circuit similar to that in the series circuit? Explain
Part 2 – Compound Circuits
3.
Which bulb is the brightest? Why is that?
4.
What happens to each bulb when the switch is open? Explain this phenomenon.
Part 3 – AC Circuits
5.
Describe the actions of the electrons in your AC circuit. How is this different from a DC circuit?
6.
Can an AC circuit be shorted just like a DC circuit?
7.
Click on the “Current Chart” and observe the graph of current vs. time. Draw and interpret the graph.
8.
Right click on the AC supply and increase the voltage and frequency. How does this explain how light bulbs stay lit with AC power in your home?