Electric Circuit Challenge

Directions:

Log on to Electric Circuit Challenges. Follow the directions at the bottom of the screen for each challenge.

On your notebook paper: Label the challenge, draw a picture of the circuit using circuit symbols & answer the questions.

1. A simple series circuit:

·  In this challenge you need to make a circuit with a cell, a lamp and a switch so that the lamp comes on when you close the switch.

·  This is like a torch circuit.

2. A simple series circuit:

·  Build a circuit with a single cell and a lamp. Now try building the same circuit with more cells.

·  What happens to the brightness of the lamp?

·  What happens if you add too many cells?

3. What's the current around a circuit?

·  Click the ammeter button, then measure the current at different points in the circuit.

·  What happens to the current?

4. What effect does the number of cells have?

·  In this exercise, you can see what happens to the electric current when you change the number of cells.

·  Put an ammeter in the circuit, then try increasing the number of cells.

·  What happens to the current?

5. Adding lamps in series

·  In this challenge you need to make a circuit with a cell, a switch and a lamp

·  Then make a circuit with a cell, a switch and two lamps in series.

·  How does the brightness of the two lamps compare with the lamp on its own?

6. Current in a series circuit

·  In this exercise, you can see what happens to the electric current when you add lamps in series.

·  With one lamp in the circuit, click the ammeter button and measure the current.

·  Click the button on the lamp to change the circuit. You should have two lamps in series. What is the current now?

7. A parallel circuit

·  In this challenge you need to make a parallel circuit with a cell and two lamps. The lamps should both come on with their normal brightness.

·  Try disconnecting one of the lamps. What happens to the brightness of the other one?

8. What is the current in a parallel circuit?

·  In this exercise, you can see what the current is at various points in a parallel circuit.

·  Choose the parallel circuit. Measure the current next to each lamp and also next to the battery. How are the currents related to each other?

·  Click the button on the lamp to change the circuit to a series circuit with a single lamp. How does the current from the battery compare with that in part a?

9. A circuit challenge

·  Build each of these circuits with two lamps and two cells.

a) A circuit where both lamps are on all of the time at their normal brightness.

b) Add a switch so that one lamp can be switched on and off and the other one is on all of the time.

c) Change the switch so that it switches both lamps on and off together (but they still have their normal brightness).

d) Try setting yourself some challenges.

10. More circuit challenges

·  Build each of these circuits.

a) A circuit with two cells and a lamp.

b) A circuit with two cells & two lamps with the same brightness as the lamp in a).

c) A circuit with four cells and two lamps with the same brightness as in a).

d) Try setting yourself some challenges.