Series and Parallel Circuits (PhET Lab)

1. DIRECTIONS: Select "Lab" on the right-hand box. Drag out three (3) batteries from the bank of items.

3. QUESTION: Measure the voltage of EACH individual battery with the voltmeter by placing the red/orange tab at one end and the black tab at the other. 

5. Record the voltage: Battery 1​ (a)   Volts Battery 2 (b)   Volts Battery 3 ​ (c)   Volts

• 9
• 0
• 12
• 18

DIRECTIONS: Move two of the batteries end to end.

QUESTION: The combined voltage is -

• 0 Volts

• 9 Volts

• 18 Volts

• 27 Volts

DIRECTIONS: Move the third battery to connect with the other two and measure the combined voltage. You should measure the voltage as 27 Volts.

QUESTION: What is the mathematical relationship for determining the total voltage for batteries in a series?

• Voltage x number of batteries

• Voltage + number of batteries

• Voltage + Voltage

• Voltage x Voltage

DIRECTIONS: Reverse one of the batteries.

QUESTION: What happens to the potential difference (voltage)?

• Nothing. The voltage remains 27 V.

• The voltage increases to 36 V.

• The voltage decreases to 18 V.

• The voltage decreases to 9 V.

DIRECTIONS: - CLICK THE RESET button. Build a simple series circuit that consists of 6 pieces of wires, 1 light bulb, and 1 battery (voltage source).  Your circuit is complete and working when the light comes on and the blue dots begin moving.

1. QUESTION: What do the moving blue dots represent?

• electrons

• protons

• neutrons

• none of these

1. QUESTION 1: What is the voltage of the battery? ​ (a)   VOLTS

2. QUESTION 2: What is the voltage of the light bulb?​ ​ (b)   VOLTS

3. DIRECTIONS: Left click on the bulb itself. CAREFUL! If you have a negative value for the bulb, you need to reverse the bulb!

4. QUESTION 3: Record the resistance that appears at the bottom of the screen.​ (c)   OHMS

• 9.0
• - 9.0
• 0
• 0.9
• 1.0
• 10.0

1. DIRECTIONS: Get the non-contact ammeter. Place the ammeter circle over the moving blue dots. 

2. QUESTION: What is the reading? ​ (a)   AMPS

   1. DIRECTIONS: Move it around the circuit. 

   2. QUESTION: Is the reading the same everywhere?​ (b)  

• No
• 12
• 9
• 0.9
• Yes

DIRECTIONS: Increase the resistance of the light bulb.

QUESTION: Does this change the speed of the moving blue dots?

• No.

  The electrons do not change their speed.

• Yes.

  The electrons move faster.

• Yes.

  The electrons move slower.

QUESTION: What is the relationship between current and resistance in a series circuit?

• The higher the resistance, the slower the current

• The higher the resistance, the faster the current

• There is no relationship

DIRECTIONS: Change ONLY the battery and bulb back to their original value! Left click between two of the connecting wires to separate them. Now add in a light bulb.

QUESTION: The brightness of the bulb ​ (a)  

• gets dimmer
• gets brighter
• does not change