Electric Circuits Labs
The following PDF files represent a collection of Lab write ups pertaining to the topic of Electric Circuits. The Labs are synchronized to readings from the Tutorial, missions of the Minds On activities, and more. Teachers may print these Labs and their related Ruberics and use them freely with their classes. Learn more about creating a Lab Notebook for these activities as well as Reporting and Guidelines.
Available Labs
Select a Lab below to learn more about it, or download the teacher guide and other supporting documents.
Sparky the Electrician Lab
What are the two requirements for an electric circuit?
First to Light Lab
Which light within a simple electric circuit is the first to light? Is it the light closest to the positive terminal? … closest to the negative terminal? … or do all lights seem to light at the same time?
Greatest Current Lab
Where is the rate of charge flow within a simple circuit the greatest? … the least? … or is it everywhere the same?
Voltage-Current-Resistance Lab
What is the mathematical relationship between voltage, current and resistance?
Round vs. Oblong – the Greatest Resistance? Lab
What bulb has the greatest resistance - the round bulb or the long bulb?
Series versus Parallel Lab
When one light bulb goes out in a series or a parallel circuit, what happens to the other light bulbs? When the number of light bulbs in a series or a parallel circuit is increased, what happens to the overall current and the overall resistance of the circuit?
Comparing Voltage Drops and Currents in Parallel Lab
How do the voltage drops across the three resistors of a parallel circuit compare to each other? Are these voltage drops different for different resistors? How do the voltage drops compare to the voltage gain in the battery? How do the current values in the individual branches compare to each other? Are these currents affected by the resistance of the branches? How do the current values compare to the current at the battery location? For any individual resistor, how are the voltage drop, current and resistance related? How can all these comparisons be expressed using mathematical equations?
Bulbs in Series Circuits Lab
When a low-R and a high-R bulb are placed together in series, which is brightest? Why? Which is brightest when they are alone in a circuit? Why? How do the voltage drops across and the current in the bulbs compare? How do these measurements support the observations of relative brightness?
Comparing Voltage Drops and Currents in Series Lab
How do the voltage drops across the three resistors of a series circuit compare to each other? Are these voltage drops different for different resistors? How do the voltage drops compare to the voltage gain in the battery? How do the current values in the individual resistors compare to each other? Are these currents affected by the resistance of the resistors? How do the current values compare to the current at the battery location? For any individual resistor, how is the voltage drop, current and resistance related? How can all these comparisons be expressed using mathematical equations?
Bulbs in Parallel Circuits Lab
When a low-R and a high-R bulb are placed in separate branches of a parallel circuit, which is brightest? Why? Which is brightest when they are alone in a circuit? Why? How do the voltage drops across and the current in the bulbs compare? How do these measurements support the observations of relative brightness?
Combination Circuits Lab
How do the voltage drops across the various resistors of a combination circuit compare to each other? Are these voltage drops different for different resistors? How do the branch voltage drops compare to each other? How do the voltage drops compare to the voltage gain in the battery? How do the current values in the individual branches compare to each other? Are these currents affected by the resistance of the resistors? How do the current values compare to the current at the battery location? How do the current values in the branches compare to those values outside of the branches? For any individual resistor, how are the voltage drop, current and resistance related? How can all these comparisons be expressed using mathematical equations?
Energy Audit Activity
How much electrical energy is used on a monthly basis in your home and what are the main sources of energy consumption?