I.a.

Conduct an investigation to answer the research question, “How is current flow impacted within
a circuit as more bulbs are added in parallel?” Remember that bulb brightness indicates current
flow. Complete the same Experimental Design table used in Experiment and conduct the
investigation. Remember to use two batteries!

How is current flow in a circuit impacted as more bulbs

Research Question
are added in parallel?
Independent Variable (IV) Number of bulbs

Dependent Variable (DV)

Current Flow
Control Variables (CV)
Batteries

Observed Outcome
General Conclusion/Claim
(specific to the research
question)
The brightness of each bulb remains the same
Adding more bulbs in parallel does not change the current
flow.

How does the current through the battery in a circuit with three bulbs in parallel compare with
the current through the battery in a circuit with two bulbs in parallel? Explain your reasoning.

The current through the battery remains the same for any bulbs directly connected to it, meaning
the current flow will be constant whether there are three bulbs or two bulbs.

II.a. As more bulbs are added in series, what happens to the current flow through each bulb? What
happens to the current flow through the battery? What does this imply about how the resistance of
the circuit changes as more bulbs are added in series?

The current flow decreases within each bulb. The current flow is the same through the battery since
it supplies the same amount of current. The more bulbs added in series the higher the resistance.
 II.b. As more bulbs are added in parallel, what happens to the current flow through each bulb?
What happens to the current flow through the battery? What does this imply about how the
resistance of the circuit changes as more bulbs are added in parallel?

The current flow through each bulb will be the same because they are directly getting sourced from
the battery. The current flow through the battery will be the same. Resistance remains the same for
bulbs in parallel.

III.b. Use the simulation workspace to create a circuit that includes two bulbs in
series like that shown at right. Note the flow of current and the brightness of
the bulbs. How does the current through bulbs A and B compare to the current
through the battery?

The current through bulbs A and B are the same as the current coming through
the battery (0.45 A).

III.c. Consider the circuit shown at right. Predict what will happen to the
brightness of bulb A when bulb C is connected in parallel to bulb B. Check
your prediction by creating it in the simulation.
1. Record the relative brightness of all three bulbs as well as what happened to
bulb A when C was added.
Prediction: Bulb A will dim, and the others will remain constant.

Bulb A is bright
Bulb B: Dim
Bulb C: Dim

When bulb C was added bulb A got brighter.

2.
What happened to the current through the battery when bulb C was connected across bulb B?
What does this tell you about the resistance of the circuit with bulb C versus without bulb C?

The current through the battery increased (0.45A-0.60A) when bulb C was added. The
resistance increased when there were less bulbs.

How does the current through bulb A compare to the current through the battery? How does the
current through bulb C compare to the current through the battery?

The current through bulb A matches the current through the battery.

The current through bulb C is half the current through the battery.

Do your observations fit with your conceptual model for current flow? Explain. Be sure to use the
words “resistance” and “current flow” in your explanation.

Yes because bulb A is in series with the other two bulbs that are in parallel making it have a
different current flow. Bulbs B and C share the same current flow because they are in parallel.

III.d. Although bulb brightness indicates current flow, an

ammeter provides an actual reading. Place an ammeter in the
simulated circuit as shown at right (as represented by an A with a
circle around it). Note that in the PhET simulation you must
check off a box on the right before an ammeter shows up in the
list of circuit elements. Record the meter reading (current is
measured in amperes or amps) below.
Now place an ammeter in the branch that contains bulb B.
Repeat for the branch that contains bulb C. Compare the two
readings. What do they indicate happens at the junctions?

Bulb A: 0.60 A
Bulb B: 0.30 A
Bulb C: 0.30 A

Current flow splits equally when bulbs are connected from series
to parallel.
III.e. Does current ALWAYS split equally at junctions? Set up a circuit in the simulation to answer
this. Explain whether your observations make sense based on your conceptual model for current
flow.

Current does not equally split in all cases. Because different objects have different resistances and
depending on whether the circuit is in parallel or in series, the current flow will not always split
equally.

IV.a. Consider the circuit at right. Predict the brightness of the bulbs when
the switch is open and when the switch is closed. Create the circuit in the
simulation to check your prediction. Does any current flow through the
bottom bulb when the switch is closed? Use an ammeter to check and
record your findings in your lab assignment.

Does the top bulb change in brightness when the switch is closed? Why or
why not?

When the switch is open, The bulbs in series will share the same current
flow. When the switch is closed, all the current switches to the top bulb.

IV.b. Consider the circuit at right. Predict the brightness of the bulbs and
then create the circuit in the simulation to check your prediction.

If ammeters were placed in each branch of the circuit (i.e. above bulb C,
above bulb A, and on the main branch with the battery), how would the
readings to compare? Check your answer using the simulation. What does
this indicate about how current divides at junctions?
The brightness of Bulb C will be brighter than the brightness of Bulbs A and
B.
Battery: 1.35 A
Bulb A & B: 0.45 A
Bulb C: 0.90A
Current does not always separate equally
IV.c.

Rank the bulbs (A-L) by brightness from most bright to least bright using signs such as >, <, or =.

A=K=L=G=H>D>I=J=B=C>E=F

Rank the batteries (I-V) from the most to the least current passing through. Use signs (>, <, =).
5=2.25
1=.90
4=.90
2=0.45
3=0.60

V>I=IV>III>II

Rank the circuits (I-V) based on the resistance they present to the battery from most to least
resistance. Use signs for ranking (>, <, =).

II>III>II=IV>V