P3: Electricity

ICT Investigation:

Modeling Electrical Circuits

Objectives

• Review the concepts of current and resistance

• Understand potential difference in electrical circuits

Specific Objectives

• be able to draw and interpret circuit diagrams containing electrical sources, switches, resistors, ammeters, voltmeters and lamps…and use the correct symbols for these components

• be able to state that current is related to the flow of charge, and appreciate the need for a complete circuit

• Understand current and voltage in series and parallel circuits• be able to explain how an ammeter and voltmeter are used in

circuits, and what they measure• be able to find out the relationship among resistance, current

and voltage in Ohm’s Law

Circuit Construction Kithttp://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/circuit-construction-kit-dc

Today’s TasksInvestigations: using the CCK, demonstrate that you understand the following concepts:

1. How to set up a simple circuit and draw a circuit diagram

2. Current and Voltage in a series circuit

3. Current and Voltage in a parallel circuit

For each of these concepts, take a screenshot of your completed circuit, post it into a word document and then write a very brief description of what your screenshot shows.

Submit a single word document with all your completed screenshots and explanations by Thursday.

Task 1

1. Set up a simple circuit with a battery and a light bulb…and make the light bulb light up!

2. Draw a circuit diagram for the circuit you set up

3. Set up an ammeter on your circuit and measure the current

4. Draw this circuit diagram as well

Task 2

1. Set up a circuit with two light bulbs in series and test the current and voltage everywhere in this circuit.

2. Make sure to record data that shows how current and voltage relate to series circuits, and make a general conclusion for both

Task 3

1. Set up a circuit with two light bulbs in parallel and test the current and voltage everywhere in this circuit.

2. Make sure to record data that shows how current and voltage relate to parallel circuits, and make a general conclusion for both

Example

• In the diagram above, there are three circuits, each with the same voltage, but progressively more lightbulbs. The more lightbulbs there are, the less bright each lightbulb in a circuit.