Series and Parallel Circuit Lab Purpose Part I – Series Circuit How does adding more loads (light bulbs) to a series circuit affect the brightness of the bulbs? Part II – Parallel Circuit How does adding more loads (light bulbs) to a parallel circuit affect the brightness of the bulbs? Materials circuit board with three light bulbs 8 alligator clips power source Procedure Part I – Series Circuit 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Draw a schematic diagram for one bulb in series. Using the circuit boards, hook up one bulb in series. Turn the power source on and turn the power knob to half way. Note the brightness of the bulb. Turn off the power source without changing the power knob (this needs to be kept constant) Draw a schematic diagram for two bulbs in series. Using the circuit boards, hook up two bulbs in series. Turn on the power source and record how the brightness of the two bulbs compares to the brightness of one bulb in series. Repeat steps 5 – 8 for three bulbs in series. Part II – Parallel Circuit As above (with series) for one, two and three bulbs hooked up in parallel. Analysis 1. What happened to the brightness of the light bulbs connected in series as you added more light bulbs to the circuit? 2. Why do you think the light bulbs behave that way in a series circuit? 3. What happened to the brightness of the light bulbs connected in parallel as you added more light bulbs to the circuit? 4. Why do you think the light bulbs behave that way in a parallel circuit? Series and Parallel Circuit Lab Purpose Part I – Series Circuit How does adding more loads (light bulbs) to a series circuit affect the brightness of the bulbs? Part II – Parallel Circuit How does adding more loads (light bulbs) to a parallel circuit affect the brightness of the bulbs? Materials circuit board with three light bulbs 8 alligator clips power source Procedure Part I – Series Circuit 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Draw a schematic diagram for one bulb in series. Using the circuit boards, hook up one bulb in series. Turn the power source on and turn the power knob to half way. Note the brightness of the bulb. Turn off the power source without changing the power knob (this needs to be kept constant) Draw a schematic diagram for two bulbs in series. Using the circuit boards, hook up two bulbs in series. Turn on the power source and record how the brightness of the two bulbs compares to the brightness of one bulb in series. Repeat steps 5 – 8 for three bulbs in series. Part II – Parallel Circuit As above (with series) for one, two and three bulbs hooked up in parallel. Analysis 1. What happened to the brightness of the light bulbs connected in series as you added more light bulbs to the circuit? 2. Why do you think the light bulbs behave that way in a series circuit? 3. What happened to the brightness of the light bulbs connected in parallel as you added more light bulbs to the circuit? 4. Why do you think the light bulbs behave that way in a parallel circuit?