If a section is highlighted, it needs your attention. Do not turn in your lab with anything highlighted!
Names
1. Series and Parallel Circuits
2. Purpose-The purpose of this lab is…
Questions:
a) How does adding resistors affect the current in a series circuit?
b) How does disconnecting one of the resistors affect the other resistors in a series circuit?
c) How does adding resistors affect the current in a parallel circuit?
d) How does disconnecting one of the resistors affect the other resistors in a parallel circuit?
3. Hypothesis (predictions)
a. I predict that…
b. I predict that…
c. I predict that…
d. I predict that…
4. Materials: use bullet points
5. Background: Write anything here that someone would need to know to understand your lab (definitions, etc).
Series circuit, parallel circuit, circuit, voltage, cell, resistor, conductor,
6. Procedure (You can use light bulbs or another type of resistor)
Resistor 1
Resistor 2
Resistor 3
Series Circuit A
Series Circuit B
Parallel Circuit A Parallel Circuit B
1.
Series Circuit C
Parallel Circuit C
Resistor 1
Resistor 2
Resistor 3
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
7. Data Table-Complete the data tables and draw the appropriate circuit symbols and diagrams below each data
table.
Current in a Series Circuit as Measured by Bulb Brightness-Hold the number of volts constant!
1st resistor
2nd resistor
3rd resistor
Current through resistor 4.5A
for series circuit A
(observed-scale of 1-10
based on brightness)
Current through resistors 2.25A
2.25A
for series circuit B
(observed-scale of 1-10
based on brightness)
Current through resistors 1.5A
1.5A
1.5A
for series circuit C
(observed-scale of 1-10
based on brightness)
What happens to
Turns off
Turns off
resistors when the 1st
resistor is disconnected?
Sample Data in White (highlight cells and change font color to see)-Use sample data as a guide if you don’t
finish your lab! Sample data assumes a 9V battery and bulbs with 2Ω of resistance.
Schematic Diagram of Series Circuit
Parallel Circuit-Hold the number of volts constant!
Indicator 1st resistor 2nd resistor
Bulb
Current through
2.25A
2.25A
resistors for parallel
circuit A (observedscale of 1-10 based
on brightness)
Current through
3A
1.5A
1.5A
resistors for parallel
circuit A (observedscale of 1-10 based
on brightness)
Current through
3.37A
1.12A
1.12A
resistors for parallel
circuit A (observedscale of 1-10 based
3rd resistor
1.12A
on brightness)
What happens to
Stays on
Stays on
Stays on
resistors when the
(gets a
(gets a little (gets a
1st resistor is
little
dimmer)
little
disconnected?
dimmer)
dimmer)
Sample Data in White (highlight cells and change font color to see)-Use sample data as a guide if you don’t
finish your lab! Sample data assumes a 9V battery and bulbs with 2Ω of resistance.
Schematic Diagram of Parallel Circuit:
8. Observations-Make your own observations about the current flowing through the resistors. Make sure you
record in bullet points or in a table.
9. Results (graph here) Click on insert, picture, and chart. Format the cells to reflect the above data. Make sure
that your graph makes sense and is presented appropriately in terms of the lab questions.
10. Conclusion-FOLLOW THE RERUN FORMAT and address the questions. Go beyond the basics. Does
your data agree with Ohm’s Law? Did you control for all variables besides resistance? When you are finished,
post your lab on your UNIT 6 webpage. Also, remember to post your conclusion on nicenet. No paper needed!