LEARNING ACTIVITY 2: THINK LIKE AN ELECTRICIAN
|
Use the pHet Circuits Simulation on the left to try and build the following circuits.
Click to run the simulation. It may take a minute to load, so be patient. If you have trouble loading, click this link to go to the pHet site and run the simulation from there. See how many you can build using the fewest number of connecting wires. Circuit #1: Make a light bulb light brightly using 4 cells. Once completed, add an on/off switch. Circuit #2: Make 3 light bulbs light brightly with all 3 with the same brightness (same current, measures the same number of amps). Once completed, add a switch that turns on/off only 2 of the bulbs.Then, move the switch so that it turns on/off all 3 lights. |
Circuit #3: Make a circuit with one main on/off switch that will turn on/off 3 bulbs, each with a different brightness.
Once completed, insert ammeters beside each bulb. Do they show the same current or different?
Then, change the circuit so 1 switch will turn on/off all the lights and a second switch will change the lights from all being the same brightness to all being different brightnesses.
Circuit #4: Make a circuit with
6 light bulbs of equal resistance
1 bulb is brighter than the rest
2 bulbs are equal in brightness but dimmer than the last 3 bulbs
3 bulbs of equal brightness but dimmer than the rest
Once completed, insert ammeters beside each bulb. Do they show the same current or different?
Then, change the circuit so 1 switch will turn on/off all the lights and a second switch will change the lights from all being the same brightness to all being different brightnesses.
Circuit #4: Make a circuit with
6 light bulbs of equal resistance
1 bulb is brighter than the rest
2 bulbs are equal in brightness but dimmer than the last 3 bulbs
3 bulbs of equal brightness but dimmer than the rest