Physics 12 Computer Simulation: Combination Circuits

Name: Savero Lukianto Chandra

Computer Simulation: Combination Circuits

Open the PHET simulation Circuit Construction Kit. In
this experiment you will be using a simulation to explore
the relationships between current, voltage, and power in
series and parallel circuits: KIRCHOFF’S LAWS

Objectives:
• to verify Kirchoff’s Voltage Law and Current Law
• to determine the effects on total resistance and power by adding or removing resistors in series
• to determine the effects on total resistance and power by adding or removing resistors in parallel

Description
Open the Circuit Construction Kit software from the computer, or download it from the Phet website.
Select the Load option, and open the files named Series Circuit, Parallel Circuit, or Combination Circuit;
they should resemble the diagrams shown below. Voltmeters and ammeters can be added to take
measurements on each circuit element.

Series Circuits Parallel Circuits Combination Circuits

Switches can be used to Switches can be used to bypass a light Switches can be used to bypass a
bypass a light bulb, or bulb, or include it in the parallel section light bulb, or include it in either
include it in the series the parallel or series section
section

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Physics 12 Computer Simulation: Combination Circuits

Data Collection and Analysis: Effect of Resistors in Series (simulation file: Series Circuits.cck)

1. Use the switches to have all three bulbs active in series. Draw the circuit diagram below including
the resistance of each bulb.

2. Record the voltage and current through each item, then calculate the power loss in each bulb.
Voltage (battery): 9V Current (battery): 0,6A

• Bulb #1: Voltage :6V Current:0,6 A Power: 3,6W

• Bulb #2: Voltage :3V Current:0,3A Power: 0,9W

• Bulb #3: Voltage :3V Current:0,3A Power: 0,9W

Total Power loss in all bulbs: 5,4W

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Physics 12 Computer Simulation: Combination Circuits

Check: total power using values for the battery. (P = IV)

3. Remove one of the bulbs from your series circuit (use the switches!). Record the voltage and current
through the battery, and calculate the power loss in all the active bulbs.
Voltage (battery): 9V_______ Current (battery): 0,45A_______

• Bulb #1: Voltage :4,5V_______ Current:0,45A_______ Power:2,025W _________

• Bulb #2: Voltage :4,5V_______ Current:0,45A_______ Power:2,025W _________

Total Power in all bulbs: _______________

Check: total power using values for the battery (P = IV)

Experiment with the simulation using the switches to bypass individual bulbs.

A. What is the effect of adding another resistor in series on the total resistance of the circuit?

The total resistance increases

supporting calculation: 𝑅0 + Δ𝑅 > 𝑅0

B. What is the effect of adding another resistor in series on the total power loss in the circuit?

Total power loss increases

supporting calculation: 𝐼 2 (𝑅0 + Δ𝑅) > 𝐼 2 𝑅0

C. What is the effect of adding another resistor in series on the current in one of the other resistors?

The total current flows in the circuit decreases

𝑉 𝑉
supporting calculation: 𝑅 < 𝑅 ⇒ 𝐼 < 𝐼0
0 +Δ𝑅 0

D. What is the effect of adding another resistor in series on the voltage in one of the other resistors?

The voltage difference across the other resistor decreases

supporting calculation: I<I0 → ∆V < ∆V0

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Physics 12 Computer Simulation: Combination Circuits

Data Collection and Analysis: Effect of Resistors in Parallel (simulation file: Parallel Circuits.cck)
Use the switches to have all three bulbs active in parallel; the forth bulb in series will always be on.
Draw the circuit diagram below including the resistance of each bulb.

1. Record the voltage and current through each item, then calculate the power loss in each bulb.
Voltage (battery):9V Current (battery):1,35A

• Bulb #1: Voltage :13,5V Current:1,35A Power: 18,225W

• Bulb #2: Voltage :4,5V Current:0,45A Power: 2,025W

• Bulb #3: Voltage :4,5V Current:0,45A Power: 2,025W

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Physics 12 Computer Simulation: Combination Circuits

• Bulb #4: Voltage :4,5V Current:0,45A Power: 2,025W

Total Power loss in all bulbs: 24,3W

Check: Total power using values for the battery, minus the power loss in the one bulb in series. (P = IV)

2. Remove one of the bulbs from your parallel circuit (use the switches!) Record the voltage and current
through each active bulb, then calculate the power loss in all the active bulbs.
Voltage (battery):9V Current (battery):1,2A

• Bulb #1: Voltage :6V Current:0,6A Power:3,6W

• Bulb #2: Voltage :6V_____ Current:0,6A__ Power:3,6W

• Bulb #3: Voltage :12V Current:1,2A Power:14,4W

Total Power loss in all bulbs:21,6W____________

Check: total power using values for the battery (P = IV)

Experiment with the simulation using the switches to bypass individual bulbs.

A. What is the effect of adding another resistor in parallel on the total resistance of the circuit?

The total resistance decreases

supporting calculation:
1 1 1 1
= + > ⇒ 𝑅 < 𝑅0
𝑅 𝑅0 Δ𝑅 𝑅0

B. What is the effect of adding another resistor in parallel on the total power loss in the circuit?

The total power loss decreases

supporting calculation:
𝑉2 𝑉2
𝑃= < ⇒ 𝑃 < 𝑃0
𝑅0 + Δ𝑅 𝑅0

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Physics 12 Computer Simulation: Combination Circuits

C. What is the effect of adding another resistor in parallel on the current in one of the other resistors?

The current passing through the other resistors remains the same

supporting calculation:
Suppose there is a circuit that is initially consists of a single resistor, 𝑅0 and a battery with voltage 𝑉.
𝑉
The initial current that passes through the resistor equals to 𝐼0 = 𝑅
0
Then, another resistor, say, has a value of resistance of Δ𝑅 is connected in parallel to 𝑅0 .
𝑅 Δ𝑅
Hence, the equivalent resistance of the circuit, 𝑅𝑒𝑞 = 𝑅 0+Δ𝑅 and the total current emerging from the
0
𝑉 1 1
battery, 𝐼 = = 𝑉( + ).
𝑅𝑒𝑞 𝑅0 Δ𝑅
At the branch on the circuit, the current splits so that the current that passes through 𝑅0 and Δ𝑅 are
𝑉 𝑉
respectively equal to 𝐼1 = 𝑅 and 𝐼2 = Δ𝑅.
0
From the result above it can be seen that 𝐼1 = 𝐼0

D. What is the effect of adding another resistor in parallel on the voltage in one of the other resistors?

The voltage in one of the other resistors remain the same.

supporting calculation:
Using the result from part C we can conclude that 𝐼𝑅 = 𝑉 for all resistors in the circuit.

Data Collection and Analysis: Kirchoff’s Laws (simulation file: Parallel Circuits.cck)

1. Use the switches to have all six bulbs active. Draw the circuit diagram below including the resistance of
each bulb. Calculate the total resistance of the entire circuit when all of the bulbs are active, using the
resistance equations for series and parallel resistors.

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Physics 12 Computer Simulation: Combination Circuits

2. Calculate the total resistance of the circuit when all of the bulbs are active using Ohm’s Law and the
current flowing through the battery. How does your answer compare to that from step #2?
The resistance of a single lamp is 𝑅 = 10 Ω
1 1 1 1 10
The equivalent resistance of the three rightmost resistors: 𝑅 = 10 + 10 + 10 ⇒ 𝑅1 = 3 Ω
1
1 1 1
The equivalent resistance of the two leftmost resistors: 𝑅 = 10 + 10 ⇒ 𝑅2 = 5Ω
2
1 1 1 1 3 1 1 5
The total resistance: 𝑅 = 𝑅 + 10 + 𝑅 = 10 + 5 + 10 ⇒ 𝑅 = 3 Ω
1 2

3. Use values from the simulation to verify Kirchoff’s current law for two junctions in the circuit. Show
all you work clearly below.
Junction 1 Junction 2

At the junction: 1,2 A + 1,8 A = 3,0 A At the junction: 3,0 A = 1,5 A + 1,5 A

4. Use values from the simulation to verify Kirchoff’s voltage law for two different loops in the circuit.
Show all you work clearly below.
Loop 1 Loop 2

|ΣV| = 3 x 9 V = 27 V |Σ𝑉| = 9 V – 9 V = 0
|Σ𝐼𝑅| = 15 V + 12 V = 27 V |Σ𝐼𝑅| = 12 A – 12 A = 0

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Physics 12 Computer Simulation: Combination Circuits

Experiment with the simulation using the switches to bypass individual bulbs.

A. What is the effect of adding another resistor in parallel on the total resistance of the circuit?

The total resistance decreases

supporting calculation:
1 1 1 1
= + > ⇒ 𝑅 < 𝑅0
𝑅 𝑅0 Δ𝑅 𝑅0

B. What is the effect of adding another resistor in parallel on the total power loss in the circuit?

The total power loss decreases

supporting calculation:
𝑉2 𝑉2
𝑃= < ⇒ 𝑃 < 𝑃0
𝑅0 + Δ𝑅 𝑅0

C. What is the effect of adding another resistor in parallel on the current in one of the other resistors?

The current passing through the other resistors remains the same

supporting calculation:
Suppose there is a circuit that is initially consists of a single resistor, 𝑅0 and a battery with voltage 𝑉.
𝑉
The initial current that passes through the resistor equals to 𝐼0 = 𝑅
0
Then, another resistor, say, has a value of resistance of Δ𝑅 is connected in parallel to 𝑅0 .
𝑅 Δ𝑅
Hence, the equivalent resistance of the circuit, 𝑅𝑒𝑞 = 𝑅 0+Δ𝑅 and the total current emerging from the
0
𝑉 1 1
battery, 𝐼 = 𝑅 = 𝑉 (𝑅 + Δ𝑅).
𝑒𝑞 0
At the branch on the circuit, the current splits so that the current that passes through 𝑅0 and Δ𝑅 are
𝑉 𝑉
respectively equal to 𝐼1 = 𝑅 and 𝐼2 = Δ𝑅.
0
From the result above it can be seen that 𝐼1 = 𝐼0

D. What is the effect of adding another resistor in parallel on the voltage in one of the other resistors?

The voltage in one of the other resistors remain the same.

supporting calculation:
Using the result from part C we can conclude that 𝐼𝑅 = 𝑉 for all resistors in the circuit.

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Physics 12 Computer Simulation: Combination Circuits

Conclusion:
Summarize, in a brief paragraph, what relationships you have learned from this simulation. Be sure to
include a description of the relationships between the current and voltage in series and parallel circuits,
as well as how power consumption is effected when resistors are added in series and parallel.

If some resistors are connected in series, the current passing through each resistor will have the same value

and the voltage in each resistor will equal to the product of the magnitude of the current and the value of its

corresponding resistance. In addition, connecting another resistor in series to a certain circuit will raise the

electrical power (energy) dissipated in the circuit. On the other hand, if some resistors are connected in

parallel, the voltage difference across every resistor is the same and the main current, when passing the

branch of the circuit associated to the parallel branch, will split in a way such that the current passing

through each resistor will equal to the quotient between the voltage and the resistance of the corresponding

resistor. Lastly, adding another resistor in parallel will minimize the power dissipated in a circuit.

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