Project 4 Series and Parallel Circuits Investigation

Part 1. Experimental Design:

Purpose: You will create working circuits so you can test the relationship described in Ohm’s
Law.
Question: How does the circuit design impact the electric current?
Independent Variable: Dependent Variable:

Hypothesis 1: If you remove the battery from the circuit, then the bulb will _______________
_____________________________________________________________________________
because_____________________________________________________________________.

Hypothesis 2: If you add a plastic spoon to the circuit, then the bulbs will _________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
because_____________________________________________________________________.

Hypothesis 3: If you add a copper penny to the circuit, then the bulbs will
_____________________________________________________________________________
_________________because_____________________________________________________
________________.

Hypothesis 4: If you build a parallel circuit and remove one bulb, then the other bulb will ____
_____________________________________________________________________________
because_____________________________________________________________________.

Background Research:
What three things are needed to create a simple circuit?
1) A…_____________________________ for example, we will use a
_________________________________
2) A…_______________________________ for example, we will use a
_________________________________
3) A…______________________________ for example, we will use a
__________________________________

What is the difference between a series and parallel circuit design?

_____________________________________________________________________________
________________________

What is the difference between a closed and an open circuit? How do these impact the ability of the light bulb to
work?
____________________________________________________________________________________

Record the formula for calculating voltage, according to Ohm’s Law. Be sure to label
variables and identify the unit.

Part 2. Experiment:
Materials:
2 Batteries (AA) Plastic Spoon
2 Battery cases (optional) Copper Penny (any small piece of copper)
Conductor (wires) 1 switch
Alligator Clips (optional) Electrical Tape
2 Lamps (light/globe) Lab sheet to track data
Procedure: conduct. Be sure to match each test to the data collection row below.
Closed Series Circuit: Closed Series Circuit with a spoon: Closed Series Circuit with a penny:
1. Get 1 cell, 2 wires, and 1 bulb. 1. Get 1 cell, 3 wires, 1 plastic 1. Get 1 cell, 3 wires, 1 copper
2. Connect one wire to the bulb on spoon and 1 bulb. penny and 1 bulb.
one end and to the battery on 2. Connect one wire to the bulb on 2. Connect one wire to the bulb on
the opposite end. one end and the spoon on the one end and the penny on the
3. Using another wire, connect the opposite end. opposite end.
other side of the battery and 3. Using another wire, connect the 3. Using another wire, connect the
bulb. other side of the spoon to the other side of the penny to the
bulb. bulb.
4. With your last wire, connect the 4. With your last wire, connect the
other side of the bulb and other side of the bulb and
battery to close the circuit. battery to close the circuit.
Closed Parallel Circuit: Closed Parallel Circuit with a closed Closed Parallel Circuit with an
1. Get 1 cell, 4 wires, and 2 bulbs. switch: opened switch:
2. Connect one wire to the bulb on
one end and to the battery on
the opposite end.
3. Using another wire, connect the
other side of the battery and
bulb. This is a series circuit.
4. Using another wire, connect
one end to the bulb already in
the circuit and one to the
additional bulb.
5. Using another wire, connect
one end to the bulb already in
the circuit and one to the other
side of the additional bulb.

Data Collection:

Diagram of Circuit: Series or Did the bulb light? Describe its brightness.
Parallel?
Closed Series Circuit:
Closed Series Circuit with a spoon:

Closed Series Circuit with a penny:

Closed Parallel Circuit:

Closed Parallel Circuit with a closed

switch:
Closed Parallel Circuit with an
opened switch:

Please record a brief summary of your observations, inferences, predictions or curiosities regarding the
tests you conducted today:

Conclusion:
Restate each hypothesis and explain if your hypothesis was correct or incorrect. If your hypothesis was
incorrect, discuss what might have caused this to occur. Explain what could have been done differently to
improve your experiment. Explain what you have learned, and how other people can learn from your
experiment. Project is due on or by March 13th, 2023. No project will be accepted after this date. Use the
following words in your conclusion:
● Electrons ● Cell (battery)

● Flow ● Load (lamp/globe)

● Current ● conductor

● Voltage ● Closed circuit

● Ohms ● Open circuit

● Resistance ● Series circuit

● Parallel circuit

● Insulator

● Conductor

● Increase

● Heat

● Decrease

● Brighter

● Dimmer