PhysicsLAB: Series Circuits

CP Workbook
Series Circuits

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In the circuit shown at the right, a voltage of 6 V pushes charge through a single resistor of 2 W. According to Ohm's law, the current in the resistor, and therefore in the whole circuit, is ____ A.

If a second identical lamp is added, as on the left, the 6-V battery must push charge through a total resistance of ___ ohms.

The current in the circuit is then ___ A.

The equivalent resistance of three 4-ohm resistors in series is ___ ohm(s).

Does current flow through a resistor or across a resistor?

throughacross

Is voltage established through a resistor or across a resistor?

throughacross

Does current in the lamps occur simultaneously, or does charge flow first through one lamp, then the other, and finally the last in turn?

simultaneouslyone at a time

Refer to the following information for the next seven questions.

Circuits a and b below are identical with all bulbs rated at equal wattage and therefore equal resistance. The only difference between the circuits is that Bulb 5 has a short circuit, as shown.

In which circuit is the current greater?

circuit acircuit b

In which circuit are all three bulbs equally bright?

circuit acircuit b

In which circuit are the bulbs the brightest?

circuit acircuit b

When both circuits are operating, which bulb(s) is(are) the dimmest?

#1#2#3#4#5#6

What bulbs have the largest voltage drops across them?

1, 2, 34, 65

Which circuit dissipates more power?

circuit acircuit b

What circuit produces more light?

circuit acircuit b

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Resource Lesson:	RL - A Comparison of RC and RL Circuits RL - Ampere's Law RL - An Introduction to DC Circuits RL - Capacitors and Dielectrics RL - Dielectrics: Beyond the Fundamentals RL - Electricity and Magnetism Background RL - Filaments RL - Kirchhoff's Laws: Analyzing Circuits with Two or More Batteries RL - Kirchhoff's Laws: Analyzing DC Circuits with Capacitors RL - Magnetic Field Along the Axis of a Current Loop RL - Magnetism: Current-Carrying Wires RL - Meters: Current-Carrying Coils RL - Parallel Plate Capacitors RL - RC Time Constants RL - Torque on a Current-Carrying Loop
Worksheet:	APP - The Circuit Rider APP - The Cycle Shop CP - DC Currents CP - Electric Power CP - Ohm's Law CP - Parallel Circuits CP - Power Production CP - Power Transmission CP - RIVP Charts #1 CP - RIVP Charts #2 NT - Brightness NT - Light and Heat NT - Parallel Circuit NT - Series Circuits NT - Shock! WS - Capacitors - Connected/Disconnected Batteries WS - Combinations of Capacitors WS - Introduction to R \| I \| V \| P Charts WS - Kirchhoff's Laws: DC Circuits with Capacitors WS - Kirchhoff's Laws: Sample Circuit WS - Resistance, Wattage, and Brightness TB - 34A: Electric Current TB - 35A: Series and Parallel TB - Advanced Capacitors TB - Basic Capacitors TB - Basic DC Circuits TB - Multiple-Battery Circuits TB - Textbook Set #6: Circuits with Multiple Batteries