Snap Circuit Sets
Name:___________________________________________________
Build the circuits as shown in the Experiment Books- Be sure to pay close attention to the diagram.
Build Project 1: Electric Light & Switch
A. What happens when you close the switch? _____________________________________
B. What happens when you open the switch? ______________________________ Why?
________________________________________________________________________________
C. This is an example of what type of circuit, series or parallel (Circle one)
D. What is the voltage of the circuit?
E. Give 2 examples of switches used in everyday life
a. ____________________________
b. ____________________________
Build Project 2: DC Motor & Switch
Make sure the + sign on the motor (M1) is close to the + side of the battery pack
A. What happens when you close the switch? _____________________________________________
B. What is the electrical energy changed into? ____________________________________________
C. How is this circuit similar to the lap circuit in project 1? ____________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Build Project 5: Lamp & Fan In Series
A. This is an example of ______________ circuit. Why?
______________________________________________________________________________
B. Compare the brightness of the bulb in this circuit with the fan on the motor compared to with the fan off
the motor. _________________________________________________________________________
C. With this in mind, the voltage from the batteries will get divided between them. Which load will use more
voltage? _____________________
D. What would happen if you removed the snap that connected the lamp to the on switch?
______________ Why?______________________________________________________________
Build Project 6: Lamp and Fan in Parallel
A. This is an example of a ____________ circuit
B. Compare the brightness of the bulb in this circuit with the fan on the motor and with the fan off the
motor. Describe your results ________________________________________________
C. The voltage from the batteries in the circuit in _______ volts. What is the voltage applied to each
device? _______
D. Remove one of the snaps connecting to the lamp. Describe what happens to the motor when the lamp
is disconnected.____________________________________________________________________
E. How is a parallel circuit different from a series circuit? ______________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
Build Project 11: Flying Saucer
A. Turn the switch to on, and when it reaches max speed shut the switch off. What happened?
_________________________________________________________________________________
B. Why does this happen? (Note the direction the blades are moving)
_________________________________________________________________________________
C. Now switch the direction of the motor (rotate it, so the positive battery terminal is with the positive motor
terminal) what happened?)_________________________________________ Why?
__________________________________________________________________________________
D. Now switch the slide switch with the press switch, what happened?
__________________________________________________________________________________
E. Now add a second battery pack to the circuit. What does that change? _________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
F. What are the volts of the circuit now? _____________
Build Project 13: Two Speed Fan
A. What is the path of the current through this circuit when only the slide switch is closed?_____________
__________________________________________________________________________________
B. What happens when you close the press switch? __________________________________________
C. IS this a series or parallel circuit? _______________________________________________________
D. What is the purpose of the lamp in this circuit? _____________________________________________
E. If you have a multiple speed fan at home, how can you increase or decrease the speed?
__________________________________________________________________________________