Physics Lab 11 Building Electrical Circuits

Phy112172262 On Line Lab 11 Building Electrical Circuitslab 11 Bui

This lab involves tasks utilizing the PhET simulation "Circuit Construction Kit: DC - Virtual Lab". You are instructed to construct various electrical circuits—series, parallel, and combinations with bulbs and batteries—to measure voltages and currents at specified locations. The purpose is to observe and derive general rules about voltage and current behaviors in series and parallel circuits. Furthermore, you will compare these rules and observations with concepts presented in a video to deepen understanding of electrical circuit principles.

Paper For Above instruction

Electrical circuits form the foundation of much of modern technology, and understanding the flow of current and the distribution of voltage within these circuits is essential for physics and engineering students. In this paper, I explore the principles governing voltage and current in series and parallel circuits through practical virtual simulations, analyze the observed behaviors, and compare these findings with theoretical expectations. By doing so, I aim to elucidate the fundamental laws such as Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law and Kirchhoff’s Current Law, which underpin circuit analysis.

In Part I of the lab, I constructed a basic series circuit using three light bulbs, two batteries, and a switch. Upon closing the switch, I measured voltages across different points and currents between various branches. The measurements showed that the voltage across each component summed up to the total voltage supplied by the batteries, which confirmed Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law stating that the algebraic sum of voltages around a closed loop equals zero. Conversely, the current flowing through each component was consistent, demonstrating that current remains the same at all points in a series circuit, aligning with Kirchhoff’s Current Law. Specifically, the current between the switch and the bulbs was uniform, reflecting that current does not accumulate or deplete in series elements.

Transitioning to Part II, I built a parallel circuit with similar components. After closing the circuit, measurements revealed that the voltage across each branch was equal to the total voltage supplied by the batteries. This confirms that in parallel circuits, the voltage remains constant across all branches. Meanwhile, the current varied in different branches, with the total current being the sum of the individual branch currents, illustrating Kirchhoff’s Current Law. This behavior underscores that in parallel circuits, current splits among multiple pathways, but voltage remains consistent across branches. These observations align with the theoretical principles and reinforce the understanding that voltage and current behave differently depending on circuit configuration.

In Part III, I combined aspects of series and parallel configurations by replacing one bulb in a series circuit with two bulbs in parallel. The voltage measurements across the parallel section showed that the voltage dropped proportionally across the series part but remained consistent across the parallel bulbs. The current measurements indicated that the total current divided among the parallel bulbs, which had a lower equivalent resistance, resulting in higher currents in the parallel branch compared to a single bulb. This experiment highlighted that in the parallel segment, voltage stays constant while current divides, juxtaposing the behaviors observed in purely series circuits. The crucial insight here is that the parallel arrangement affects current distribution but not the voltage supplied to that segment.

Part IV involved constructing a circuit where one bulb in a parallel arrangement was replaced with two bulbs in series. The measurements confirmed that the voltage across the series pair summed to the voltage drop across the entire parallel segment. Conversely, the total current entering the parallel section was equal to the sum of the currents through the series bulbs, observing that the series arrangement internally divides current. Comparing this with the earlier circuit, it became evident that in the series section, the current remains uniform, whereas in the series portion of the parallel setup, the current is split between bulbs. This exercise emphasized the contrasting behaviors of voltage and current in series versus parallel arrangements, solidifying the conceptual understanding that voltage divides in series, and current divides in parallel.

Finally, I watched an educational video that summarized these key principles of circuit analysis. The video reinforced the observation that voltage in series circuits sums up to the total supply voltage, while in parallel circuits, voltage remains constant. It also clarified that current in a series circuit is consistent across elements, whereas it divides among parallel branches. The visual explanations and additional examples provided a clearer understanding of how these fundamental laws apply universally. The video confirmed that the experimental measurements align with theoretical laws, and it deepened my comprehension by illustrating real-world applications of Kirchhoff’s laws, ultimately confirming and expanding my initial findings throughout the lab.

In conclusion, the virtual lab experiments and the educational video collectively demonstrate that in series circuits, voltage divides but current remains consistent, whereas in parallel circuits, voltage remains constant while current splits among branches. These principles are vital for analyzing and designing electrical systems, and the simulation-based approach offers a practical understanding of abstract concepts. Recognizing the differences and relationships between series and parallel configurations enhances our grasp of electrical circuit behavior, which is fundamental for future studies and technological applications.

References

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  • PhET Interactive Simulations. (n.d.). Circuit Construction Kit: DC - Virtual Lab. Retrieved from https://phet.colorado.edu
  • Giancoli, D. C. (2014). Physics: Principles with Applications. Pearson.
  • Chen, K., & Sun, R. (2010). The Fundamentals of Electrical Circuit Analysis. IEEE Transactions.
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