SCIENCE 9 ~~Circuit Electricity Lab~~ NAME: DATE: GROUP MEMBERS: CLASS: 90 Objective: To further develop an understanding of how circuits work by creating and manipulating electrical circuits. Materials: 2-Batteries 1-Electric Bell 3-Light Bulbs 6-Wires 2-Battery Holder 3-Light Bulb holders 2-Switches Prediction Questions: Prior to beginning the lab, please complete the following questions. After you have completed the questions, please see Mr. Klasz for your materials to begin the lab. 1. What happens when you break a series circuit? 2. What happens when you break a parallel circuit? 3. Rank the following two circuits in order of brightness and explain your reasoning: a. A series circuit with 2 light bulbs. b. A parallel circuit with 2 light bulbs. 4. What is the difference between an open and a closed circuit? ***After your group has completed these questions, please show Mr. Klasz to receive your materials. You should only spend 3-5 minutes on the prediction questions***
Part 1: Procedure: 1. Create a series circuit using 2 wires, a battery, and a light bulb. 2. Break the circuit. 3. Create a series circuit using 3 wires, a battery, and 2 light bulbs. 4. Break the circuit. Results/Analysis 1. Draw each of the circuits below using the proper symbols we learned in class. 2. Show on your diagrams above where you broke the circuits. What happened when you broke each of the circuits? Why did this happen in each case? 3. Compare the two circuits to each other. Please be sure to talk about the brightness of the light bulbs.
Part 2: Procedure: 1. Create a parallel circuit using 6 wires, a battery, and 2 light bulbs. 2. Break the circuit on the main pathway. Observe and re-connect the circuit 3. Break the circuit on one of the pathways with the light bulbs. Observe and re-connect the circuit. Results/Analysis: 1. Draw your circuit below using the proper symbols. 2. Indicate on your diagram where you broke the circuit for steps 2 and 3. What happened in each case? Why did this happen?
Part 3: Procedure: 1. Create a series circuit using a battery, 2 wires, and an electric bell, rather then a light bulb. The bells can be very touchy, so you may need to play with it for a minute before it works properly. 2. Create a series circuit using a battery, 3 wires, an electric bell and a light bulb. Results/Analysis: 3. Draw each of the circuits you created below, using the proper symbols. Please use the light bulb symbol for the electric bell, and label it, with words, as the electric bell. 4. What happened in each circuit? Compare the circuits to each other.
Part 4: Your investigation: Procedure: 1. As a group, look at the materials you have been provided with as well as the additional materials that Mr. Klasz has available. These materials include: batteries, light bulbs, wires, electric bells, a buzzer, a hand held motor, voltmeters, ammeters, and motors. Using these materials as a starting point, develop TWO TESTABLE QUESTIONS. Use the materials to test your questions, and provide answers to them. Results/Analysis: 1. Testable questions #1: a. What is your first testable question? b. How will you test this question? (What materials will you use? How will you create your circuit?) c. Provide a diagram of the circuit you are creating, and the answer to your original question.
2. Testable questions #2: a. What is your second testable question? b. How will you test this question? (What materials will you use? How will you create your circuit?) c. Provide a diagram of the circuit you are creating, and the answer to your original question.
Discussion: These responses should be individual. You may discuss these questions with your group members, but please write your own, independent, answers. 1. What are the main differences between a series circuit and a parallel circuit? 2. We have been discussing series and parallel circuits in class, and have completed an online virtual lab as well as the human circuit activity. With the hands on experience this lab has provided you, please explain the advantages and disadvantages of series and parallel circuits. Please provide your recommendation for the type of circuit you would recommend using in homes and provide your reasoning. 3. Reflecting back on last week s static electricity laboratory, please compare static electricity and circuit electricity.
Conclusion: Part 1: What did you learn from completing this lab? Please be specific and provide details. You may also refer to last week s static electricity lab to provide information about your overall understanding of electricity. Part 2: As we have been discussing, science is all about experimenting, observing the results, and analysing what they mean. There are many errors that could have occurred in completing today s experiment. Please provide a minimum of 5 of these possible errors. These should be errors that you or a member of your group could have unknowingly made, which would have altered your results.
Part 3: What are some future experiments that you could do to further develop your understanding of electricity?
Teacher Use Only 109-14, 308-16: Describe the flow of charge in an electrical circuit and explain the factors affecting the circuit 210-7, 308-15: Investigate, in the laboratory, and compare qualitatively, static electricity and electric current 308-17: Describe series and parallel circuits involving varying resistance, voltage, and current 208-1: Rephrase questions in a testable form and clearly define practical problems 209-3: Use instruments effectively and accurately for collecting data 210-7, 210-10: Identify and suggest explanations for discrepancies in data and identify potential sources of error and determine the amount of error in measurement 1 1+ 2 2+ 3 3+ 4