1
1.5 V
2
1.5 V
1.5 V
3
1.5 V
1.5 V 2
II.) Materials: Batteries, battery holders, wire, switch, light bulbs, light
bulb sockets.
In sequence, put together the three circuits shown above. Describe what happens when
you close the switch. Compare the three cases.
III.) Materials: Batteries, battery holders, wire, switch, light bulbs, light
bulb sockets, and magnetic compass.
You will be asked to set up circuit #1 and place a compass directly over one of the wires
so that the compass neeedle is lined up along the wire.
A.) Before setting up the circuit, individually, predict what will happen when
you close the switch.
B.) As a group, discuss your predictions and come to a consensus about what will
happen.
C.) Class discusssion. What is the class consensus concerning what will happen?
D.) Set up circuit #1, close the switch, and observe. What happened? 3
E.) Individually, predict what will happen when circuit #2 is set up and the
compass in placed above one of the wires. How will the results compare with
circuit #1?
F.) Discuss your predictions with your group and come to a group consensus
about what will happen.
G.) Class discussion. What is the class consensus concerning the comparison of
circuit #1 and circuit #2?
H.) Set up circuit #2, close the switch, and observe. What happened?
I.) What do you expect to happen when you set up circuit #3?
J.) Set up circuit #3. What happened? 4
IV.) Materials: Batteries, battery holders, wire, switch, light bulbs, light
bulb sockets, ammeter, and voltmeter. (Your instructors will help with the
use of the ammeter and voltmeter.
)
A.) Individually, in your own words, describe what will happen in each case when the
switch is closed.
B.) Individually, compare the three cases. What will be different in each case?
C.) Discuss your predictions/descriptions with your group and come to a group
consensus about what will happen and how the three cases compare.
D.) Class discussion. What is the class consensus about what will happen?
1
2
3 5
E.) In sequence, set up the three circuits and record the voltmeter and ammeter readings.
Circuit
Voltmeter
Ammeter
#1
#2
#3
V.) Comparison of all three sets of observations.
Circuit
Bulb
Brightness
Compass
Reading
Voltmeter
Reading
Ammeter
Reading
#1
#2
#3
A.) Describe, indivdually, any trends you notice in the above data.
B.) Discuss any trends with your group.
C.) As a group discuss the meaning of these trends. What happened? Why?
D.) Class discussion.