Electricity

Investigation #1: Simple Circuits

Introduction: A battery causes a current (flow of electric charge) through a closed circuit. The
amount of current that flows depends on what we connect to the batteries.
Objectives Qualitative investigation of the behavior of electric circuits containing batteries
and bulbs connected in series and parallel.

Activity I Circuits with one Bulb

Part a This portion of the lab will be completed using an online PhET interactive
simulation for circuit construction kits created by a team at the University of
Colorado at Boulder. The link to this simulation is:

https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/circuit-construction-kit-dc/latest/circuit-
construction-kit-dc_en.html

Select the Intro option on the simulation. The screen should look like this:

On the left-hand side of the screen there is a list of circuit elements including a
wire, battery, lightbulb, resistor, and a switch. These circuit elements can be
placed on the work surface (to the right) by clicking and dragging the elements to
the position they are needed.

© 2014 by Mangala Joshua Mesa Community College Page 11.1.1

Mesa, Arizona 85202
Question 1.1 Drag a battery, a light bulb and wires onto the work area. Draw a clear sketch
(or use the snipping tool to capture the screen as was done above, then insert
the image here) of how you must connect them together in order to make the
bulb light.

Question 1.2 What is the minimum number of wires needed to light the bulb? Can it be lit
with only a single wire? Try it!

Minimum 2 wires are required to light the bulb. No, it can not be lit with onl single
wire because there is a need of a wire for return current.

Question 1.3 Draw a sketch of the connections inside of

the bulb. Show clearly where the two wires
inside the bulb end on the base of the bulb.
This is clearly depicted in the light bulb
image in the simulation.

When the bulb is lit it is said that the circuit is closed.

Usually a switch is used in a circuit, because in real life the battery can be
damaged if the circuit is connected too long.
Part b In the simulator you can show the circuit either as it appears in real life or by
replacing the circuit elements with their circuit diagrams by choosing the toggle
switch on the right-hand side of the screen.

In the simulator, connect the circuit shown below.

This is what the circuit should look like in the simulator:

Observe the bulb as you open and close the switch. Just tap on the switch.

A circuit that is not closed is called an open circuit (i.e. when the switch is open).
Part c In the simulator connect the circuit below.

Question 1.4 What happens to the bulb when A and B are connected, and the switch is
open?

When A and B are connected, bulb will glow.

Question 1.5 What happens to the bulb when A and B are connected, and the switch is
closed?
When switch is closed, bulb will not glow.

You can see that even when a bulb is in a complete circuit it will not light if a
wire is connected across it. In this case it is said that the bulb is shorted out.
Part d
Definitions A conductor is a material thru which electricity will flow.
An insulator is a material thru which electricity will not flow.
For this part of the lab, a video has been recorded to show an experiment being
done to discover which materials are conductors, and which materials are
insulators. The video can be found at:

https://youtu.be/5XEs_z6OS3c

In the video, the following equipment will be used to make the circuit shown:
two batteries, a bulb, a switch, and wires. Different materials listed in the
question below will be inserted between points A and B and when the switch is
closed, observe the bulb.

Question 1.6 Which of the following materials are conductors and which are insulators?
Brass (Br) conductor
Copper (Cu) conductor
Iron (Fe) Conductor
Zinc (Zn) Conductor
Aluminum (Al) Conductor
Lead (Pb) Insulator
Nickel (Ni) insulator
Pencil Lead insulator
Paper insulator
Plastic insulator
Cork Insulator

When a bulb is connected across a battery, the bulb glows because there is a
current in the circuit. The brightness of the bulb is an indicator of the amount of
current flowing through it.
Question 1.7 If two identical bulbs are glowing with equal brightness, then how do the
currents thru the two bulbs compare?

The current flow throught them is equal.

 Question 1.8 If two identical bulbs are not equally bright, what can you say about the current
through the bulb that is glowing brighter?

Greater amount of current flows through the bulb that is glowing brighter.
Note The brightness of a bulb is not proportional to the current flowing thru it. A bulb
that has twice as much current is not twice as bright.

Activity 2 Circuits with More than One Bulb

Part a Identical Bulbs Connected in Series
In the following video an instructor will connect the following two circuits. The
bulbs used in both circuits are identical. In circuit b the bulbs are said to be
connected in series.
https://youtu.be/cqQ21pc-9j4

The same circuits can be setup in the circuit construction PhET. In this case the
circuits would look like this:
 When you close the switches, the light bulbs will glow. You can determine the
relative brightness of the bulbs by counting the number of yellow lines coming
from each light bulb.
Question 2.1 How does the brightness of bulb B compare to C?

Brightness of both bulb is same.

Question 2.2 How does the current thru bulb B compare to C?

Same amount of current is flowing through both bulb.

Question 2.3 How does the brightness of bulb A compare to bulbs B and C?

Brightness of bulb A is greater than the brightness of Bulb B and C.

Question 2.4 How does the current thru circuit a compare to the current thru circuit b?

In circuit A, more current is flowing as compare to the circuit B.

Question 2.5 What do you think would happen if bulb B were unscrewed from its socket?

If the bulb is unscrewed then the circuit will be open and no current will flow.
And bulb C will not be glow.
Watch this video to see what happens when bulb B is unscrewed from its socket.

https://youtu.be/1pHSfKQKTdc

Note In circuit a and circuit b we are using the same battery but the currents in the
circuits are different because what is connected to the battery is different. We can
think of the bulb as presenting a resistance to the current (i.e., the flow of charge)
in the circuit. If there is more resistance in the circuit less current will be drawn
from the battery.
Question 2.6 When two bulbs are connected in series, is the total resistance more or less
than when one bulb is connected? Hint: look at your answer for question 2.4.

The total resistance of the circuit increases when two bulbs are connected in
series.
Question 2.7 As the total resistance in a circuit increases, what happens to the current thru
the battery?

If the resistance in a circuit increases, the current flow through it decreases.

Part b Identical Bulbs Connected in Parallel
In the following video an instructor will connect the following two circuits. The
bulbs used in both circuits are identical. In circuit b the bulbs are said to be
connected in parallel.
https://youtu.be/hZS5WHsZcM8

The same circuits can be setup in the circuit construction PhET. In this case the
circuits would look like this:

Question 2.8 How does the brightness of bulb B compare to C?

The brightness of both bulb is same.

Question 2.9 How does the current thru bulb B compare to the current thru C?

Current flow through each bulb is same.

Question How does the brightness of bulb A compare to bulbs B and C?
2.10
Brightness of bulb A is same Bulb B and C.
Question How does the current thru bulb A compare to the current thru bulb B and thru
2.11 bulb C?

Current flow through bulb A is same as bulb B and C.

Question What do you think will happen if you unscrew bulb B?
2.12
Bulb C glows continuously with no change in brightness.

Watch this video to see what happens when bulb B is unscrewed from its socket.

https://youtu.be/0_lFhibyqyM

These observations indicate that when two identical bulbs are connected in
parallel to a battery, they behave independently of each other. Each draws the
same current, whether or not the other is connected!! The currents are the same
because the bulbs are identical.
Question How much current will be drawn from the battery in circuit b compared to
2.13 circuit a, assuming all bulbs are identical? If you are not sure talk to your
instructor.

The total current flow through circuit B is greater as compare to circuit A.

Question Is the total resistance (equivalent resistance) due to both bulbs in circuit b
2.14 greater or less than the resistance in circuit a. Hint: look back at the answer
you gave in Q2.7.

The total resistance of the circuit decreases due to both bulb B and C.
Part c Combinations of Series and Parallel Resistors in a Circuit
Use the PhET simulation to set up the following circuit.

Now connect bulbs B and C in series and connect them in parallel to bulb A as
shown in the following diagram.

Question Is there a change in the brightness of bulb A when the second branch is added?
2.15
There is no change in the brightness of the bulb A.
Now add a third branch with three bulbs in series as shown in the diagram.

Question Write down your observations about the brightness of each bulb.
2.16
Brightness of Bulb A is more than every bulb. Bulb B and C have same
brightness but less than bulb A. Bulb D, E and F have same brightness but less
than bulb A, B and C.
Question What will happen to the brightness of all the other bulbs if bulb A is
2.17 unscrewed?

There is no change in the brightness of other bulb by unscrewing

bulb A.

Question What will happen to the brightness of all the other bulbs if bulb E is
2.18 unscrewed?

Bulb D and F will not glow more but there is no change in the
brightness of bulb A, B and C.

Watch the following video to see if your answers to questions 2.17 and 2.18 are
correct.
https://youtu.be/LngZdFpdEco

Question Among the appliances that are plugged into the outlets in a typical kitchen are
2.19 a toaster, a blender and a microwave oven. Are these appliances connected
together in series or in parallel? Explain your answer.

All the appliances are connected in parallel. Because in series, voltage is

change for all appliance which may demage them.

Question Are the headlights in your car connected together in series or in parallel.
2.20 Explain your answer.

Headlights of a car are connected in parallel. In parallel connection,

each headlight is exposed to the full potential difference supplied by
the car's electrical system, giving maximum brightness.