Simple Electric Circuits

Goal: To build and observe the operation of simple electric circuits and to learn
measurement methods for electric current and voltage using ammeters and
voltmeters.

Lab Preparation
Electric charges move through electrical conductors in response to a potential
difference or voltage. The electric current is the rate that these charges move
through the circuit. Electric current is measured in amperes (A) or amps.
Current direction is defined as the direction positive charges will flow (opposite
to the electrons in the conductors).

The electric circuits in this lab are built with batteries, light bulbs, switches, and
wires. The batteries provide a potential difference or voltage. The characteristics
and arrangement of the light bulbs will determine how much current flows.

Series circuits are ones where all devices are connected end-to-end, forming a
single path for electrons to flow. The same current exists almost immediately
through all the devices and also in the battery that is providing the voltage.

Parallel circuits have at least two or more devices connected in such a way that
the same voltage acts across each one and any single one completes the circuit
independently of the other devices.

Equipment
Ammeters. Electric current is measured with an ammeter. In order for the meter
to measure the current, the electric charges must flow through the meter, that is,
they enter through one terminal (the red of positive terminal) and exit from
another terminal (usually indicated by black, or labeled negative). In a circuit, an
ammeter should be hooked up in series.

Voltmeters. Measuring potential difference or voltage is done with a voltmeter

(which measures in volts). Unlike ammeters measuring current at a single point
in the circuit, voltmeters compare the electric potential at two different points in
a circuit. Voltmeters are hooked up in parallel in a circuit.

There are many electrical components used in this lab. Batteries, light bulbs, and
switches are all used. The schematic symbols of the components used in this lab
are shown below.

A V

Switch
Battery Bulb Wire (open) Ammeter Voltmeter

The wire example shows a "junction," where electrically connected wires are
indicated by the solid circle.

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Procedure

I. Qualitative observations.
A. Without using any meters yet, begin by building the simplest of circuits
using the battery pack, one light bulb, and the switch, along with
necessary wires to make the connections, shown in Figure 2. Place your
components as shown in the schematic as closely as possible. The switch
is “normally open.” When the switch is pushed to bring the two sides into
contact, it is referred to as being closed. Close the switch and observe what
happens and record you observation.
B1

Figure 2

B. Continue by building the series circuit in in Figure 3. Close the switch and
observe what happens.

B1 B2
B1 B2 B3

Figure 3

Make a table similar to Table 1 below and rank the brightness of the bulbs
for your circuit. Let 3 represent the brightest and 1 represent the dimmest.

  Bulb  1   Bulb  2   Bulb  3  

1  Bulb  -­‐  Series   3   -­‐   -­‐  
2  Bulbs  -­‐  Series       -­‐  
3  Bulbs  -­‐  Series        
2  Bulbs  -­‐  Parallel       -­‐  
3  Bulbs  -­‐  Parallel        
Combined        

Table 1

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 C. Build the series circuit in Figure 4. Close the switch, observe what
happens, and rank the brightness of the bulbs in your table.
B1 B2
B1 B2 B3

Figure 4

D. Return to the starting circuit (Figure 2) and add a second bulb in parallel
with the original as shown in Figure 5. Close the switch, observe what
happens, and rank the brightness of the bulbs in your table.

B1 B2 B1 B2 B3

Figure 5

E. Add a third bulb in parallel as shown in Figure 6. Close the switch,

observe what happens, and rank the brightness of the bulbs in your table.

B1 B2 B1 B2 B3

Figure 6

F. Lastly, build the three-bulb combined circuit shown in Figure 7. Again,

close the switch, observe what happens, and rank the brightness of the
bulbs in your table.
B1

B2 B3

Figure 7

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II. Measuring electric current.

*Ammeters are easily damaged or destroyed by allowing currents to flow that

are larger than the full-scale value for a given setting. They are the least
durable of electrical instruments you will use in lab. Always double check the
wiring and range selection before operating your circuits.

When using ammeters always begin measuring using the largest current range
available (5 A). If the meter produces a small reading or deflection, then
change the range to the next more sensitive setting (.5 A). Do not use a range
that will send the meter beyond the full-scale value.

A. Once again build the circuit in Figure 2. The ammeter will be put in the
circuit at 3 different places: a, b, & c as shown in Figure 8a. To measure
the current at point a, the circuit must be dis-assembled a bit so that the
ammeter in the circuit is “in series” with the light bulb as shown in Figure
8b. Be sure to connect the ammeter so that current enters (one of) the + or
red terminals and exits the – or black terminal to the rest of the circuit.

I
a
I
a
+ -
A
a

Figure 8a Figure 8b

Measure Ia, the current leaving the battery and entering the ammeter and
record on your data worksheet. Take the ammeter out of the circuit and
assemble it at point b to measure Ib and assemble it again at point c to
measure Ic. How are Ia, Ib, and Ic related in this circuit?

B. Make and record current measurements for the series circuit S2 at the
lettered points in Figure 9.

B1 B2
B1 B2 B3

a b a b c
d
c

Figure 9

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 From your observations of the currents in these series circuits, answer the
following questions.
1. How is the brightness of the bulb related to the current flowing?
2. What can you say about the current flowing through each bulb in a
series circuit?

C. Make and record current measurements for the parallel circuit P2 at the
lettered points in Figure 10. Hooking up the ammeter at points b and c
can be a little tricky so you might want to check with your TA to make
sure the ammeter is hooked up correctly.

a b a b c

c d e
B1 B2 B1 B2 B3

d g

Figure 10

From your observations of the currents in this parallel circuit, answer the
following questions.
1. How does the current through Bulb 1 compare to the current through
Bulb 2?
2. What is the likely mathematical relationship between Ia, Ib, and Ic?

D. Make and record current measurements for the combined circuit at the
lettered points in Figure 11.

a b

Figure 11

From your observations of the currents in this combined circuit, answer

the following questions.
1. If a bulb is not glowing, does that mean there must necessarily be no
current flowing? Explain.
2. Test your mathematical relationship between Ia, Ib, and Ic that was
developed for part C.

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III. Measuring voltage. Unlike hooking up an ammeter, a voltmeter can be used
without disassembling the circuit. The voltmeter leads or probes can be
attached (or touched) at two different points in the circuit. The voltmeter
reports the potential difference, 𝛥V, between the two probe locations, V+ - V-
or Vred – Vblack. This difference is usually called simply “the voltage” or “the
voltage drop” between the points.

It is a good idea to use color-coded probes or leads with the voltmeter to

keep the proper sense of polarity in the measurements. Let’s represent these
differences by a simple notation: VAB = VA − VB, so that VAB would be
measured by placing the red (+, or high) probe at point A and the black (- or
low) probe at point B. The real voltmeter used here is a digital multimeter
that can be used to measure voltage, current, and resistance. Be sure to
select the appropriate function – DC voltage measurement, not AC – and a
suitable range for the measurements at hand. Ask your lab instructor for
assistance in interpreting the various icons on the meter if necessary. Be sure
not to use a current-measuring scale!

A. Begin with the simple one-bulb circuit again and with the switch closed
measure and record the voltage drop VBC across the light bulb as in
Figure 12.

A B

D C

Figure 12

Also measure the voltage drops along the wire from the + battery
terminal to the light bulb, VAB, and from the bulb back to - terminal of
the battery, VCD. To finish, measure VDA, and VAD (reversing the roles of
red and black leads).

Now measure the above values when the switch is open. List all
measurements (switch closed and open) in a table.

From your observations of the voltages in this simple circuit, answer the
following questions.
1. How are VDA and VAD related?
2. How does VAB + VBC + VCD compare to VAD?
3. What do you get if you sum up the voltage drops once around the
circuit? (VAB + VBC + VCD + VDA = ?)
4. With the switch closed does it appear reasonable to neglect the
voltage drops VAB and VCD along the wire segments?

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 B. For the series circuit S2 measure the voltage drops across each light bulb
and the battery again. Refer to Figure 13 and measure VAB, VBC, and VCA
around the circuit with the switch closed. What is the sum of the voltage
drops around the circuit?

A B

Figure 13

C. For the parallel circuit P2 (Fig. 5 or Fig. 10) measure the voltage drop
across each bulb and the voltage drop across the battery and record.
How do the voltage drops compare?

D. Make voltage drop measurements across all bulbs for the combined
circuit, VAB, VBD, VCD, and VDA (Figure 14).

A B
C

Figure 14

From your observations and measurements of voltages in the

combined circuit answer the following questions.
1. Find the sum of the voltage drops along path A-B-D (VAB + VBD).
Compare this sum to the voltage supplied by the battery, VAD.
2. Find the sum of the voltage drops along path A-B-C-D (VAB + VCD).
Compare this sum to the voltage supplied by the battery, VAD.

*When finished with your lab clean up your lab station. Make sure you put all
of your wires away.

Homework
1. What can you say about the electric current that flows through two or more
bulbs connected one after another in a series circuit?
2. What can you say about the current flowing into a junction of 3 wires
compared to the currents that flow out from the junction? State Kirchhoff's
junction rule and compare.
3. State Kirchhoff's Loop rule. How does this relate to the combined circuit in
part III D?

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