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Home Interactives Electric Circuits Equivalent Resistance Notes

Equivalent Resistance Notes

Notes:

The Equivalent Resistance Interactive is a re-scalable file that displays nicely on smart phones, on tablets such as the iPad, on Chromebooks, and on laptops and desktops. The size of the Interactive can be scaled to fit the device that it is displayed on. The compatibility with iPads, other tablets, and Chromebooks make it a perfect tool for use in a 1:1 classroom.

Teaching Ideas and Suggestions:

This Interactive focuses on the concept of equivalent resistance. The Interactive consists of 18 different activities or levels. Each activity or level presents a collection of resistors - arranged in series, in parallel, or in combination. The challenge of the activity is to determine what resistors must be placed where in order to create a specified resistance. There are three to five options to choose from, depending on the specific level. Once a student has made their decisions, a Check It button appears. Clicking on the button evaluates student answers. If correct, students earn a star that is displayed on the Main Menu next to that particular level. If incorrect, students are told what the equivalent resistance of their circuit is and then offerred a chance to do analyze a similar circuit. There are 54 total circuits to analyze. These circuits are grouped into threesomes to compose a difficulty level. All three circuits in the threesome have the same characteristics. The specific circuit that a student receives is chosen at random. Students can progress from level to level. Teachers can assign or recommend speficic levels or all levels. The levels are described below.
 
  • Level 1: Series Circuit; two resistors; use of identical resistance values
     
  • Level 2: Series Circuit; three resistors; use of identical resistance values
     
  • Level 3: Parallel Circuit; two resistors; use of identical resistance values
     
  • Level 4: Parallel Circuit; three resistors; use of identical resistance values
     
  • Level 5: Series Circuit; two resistors; use of different resistance values
     
  • Level 6: Series Circuit; three resistors; use of different resistance values
     
  • Level 7: Parallel Circuit; two resistors; use of different resistance values
     
  • Level 8: Parallel Circuit; three resistors; use of different resistance values
     
  • Level 9: Combination Circuit: two resistors in parallel that are in series with a third resistor
     
  • Level 10: Combination Circuit: two resistors in parallel that are in series with a third and fourth resistor
     
  • Level 11: Combination Circuit: two resistors in parallel that are in series with a third resistor
     
  • Level 12: Combination Circuit: two resistors in parallel that are in series with a third and fourth resistor
     
  • Level 13: Combination Circuit: three resistors in parallel that are in series with a fourth resistor
     
  • Level 14: Combination Circuit: three resistors in parallel that are in series with a fourth resistor
     
  • Leve; 15: Combination Circuit: three resistors in parallel that are in series with a fourth and fifth resistor
     
  • Level 16: Combination Circuit: three resistors in parallel that are in series with a fourth and fifth resistor
     
  • Level 17: Combination Circuit: two resistors in parallel that are in series with a third, fourth and fifth resistor
     
  • Level 18: Combination Circuit: two resistors in parallel that are in series with a third, fourth and fifth resistor


Our Equivalent Resistance Interactive is now equipped with Task Tracker functionality. This functionality allows teachers with Task Tracker accounts to discard undersired Question Groups and view student progress. Students of those teachers will have their progress saved. Learn more.

Related Resources:

There are numerous resources at The Physics Classroom website that serve as very complementary supports for the Equivalent Resistance Interactive. These include:
  • Minds On Physics Internet Modules:
    The Minds On Physics Internet Modules include a collection of interactive questioning modules that help learners assess their understanding of physics concepts and solidify those understandings by answering questions that require higher-order thinking. Missions EC7, EC8, EC9, EC10, EC11, and EC12 of the Electric Circuits module provide great complements to this Interactive. They are best used in the middle to later stages of the learning cycle. Visit the Minds On Physics Internet Modules.

     
  • Curriculum/Practice: Several Concept Development worksheets at the Curriculum Corner will be very useful in assisting students in cultivating an understanding of circuits, most notably ...

    Electrical Resistance

    Series Circuits

    Parallel Circuits

    Combination Circuits

    Circuit Analysis

    Visit the Curriculum Corner.

     
  • Labwork:
    Simulations should always support (never replace) hands-on learning. The Laboratory section of The Physics Classroom website includes several hands-on ideas that complement this Interactive. Five notable lab ideas include ...

    Series versus Parallel Lab

    Comparing Voltage Drops and Currents in Series Lab

    Bulbs in Series Circuits Lab

    Comparing Voltage Drops and Currents in Parallel Lab

    Bulbs in Parallel Circuits Lab


    Visit The Laboratory.
  • Science Reasoning Activities:
    Science classrooms should be filled with reasoning activities. There is one related activity in the Electric Circuits section of the Science Reasoning Center that will challenge students to employ close reading, data analysis, and logical reasoning. The activity is named ...

    Series and Parallel Circuits

    Visit the Science Reasoning Center.

Additional resources and ideas for incorporating Equivalent Resistance into an instructional unit on Electric Circuits can be found at the Teacher Toolkits section of The Physics Classroom website. There are several toollkits available for the topic of electric circuits. Visit Teacher Toolkits.

Visit: Equivalent Resistance Interactive