Activity 1.2.

3 Electrical Circuits Simulation

Answer Key
Introduction
Since the late 1800s, engineers have designed systems to utilize electrical energy
due to its ability to be converted, stored, transmitted, and reconverted efficiently into
other forms of energy. In the 21st century, electrical energy production, distribution,
and application have become consumer driven. Today’s consumer utilizes electrical
energy in all aspects of life, from cell phones and computers to refrigeration and
heating and cooling systems, and even transportation. Electrical energy, depending
on geographic location, is converted from mechanical energy, chemical energy, light
energy, and thermo energy before it reaches the consumer.

Regardless of the conversion process, electrical energy consists of three basic

components: current, voltage, and resistance. Current is the net transfer of electric
charge per unit of time. Voltage is the amount of work required to move a charge
from one point to another. Resistance is the opposition to the flow of current.
Understanding the relationship between current, voltage, and resistance allows
engineers to design efficient, safe, and functional electrical circuits. Electrical circuits
consist of the following components: an energy source to provide voltage,
conductors to allow current travel, insulators to limit current travel, and a load.
Electrical circuits provide an uninterrupted path for current travel and are broken into
two distinct categories of design: series circuits and parallel circuits.

Equipment
 Engineering notebook
 PC with Internet
 Calculator
Procedure
This activity will provide you with an introduction to voltage, current, resistance,
series circuits, parallel circuits, and Ohm’s Law. Your team will construct circuits
using an online electricity simulator. You will use a virtual multimeter to measure
properties within the circuit.
Introduction to Electric Circuits
Electric Circuit Schematics
Schematics are diagrams consisting of symbol representations and configurations of
electrical components within a circuit. The table below illustrates circuit symbols to
be used within schematics throughout this lab.

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Principles Of Engineering Activity 1.2.3 Electrical Circuits Simulation Answer Key – Page 1
 Component Symbol Pictorial
Power supply
(Battery)

Conductive wire

Resistor

Open switch
Closed switch

Light bulb

Voltmeter
(Voltage readings)
V

Ammeter
(Current readings)
I

Ohm’s Law
The relationship between current, voltage, and resistance within an electrical circuit
was developed by Georg Simon Ohm and is known today as Ohm’s law. Ohm’s law
states that the direct current flowing in an electric circuit is directly proportional to the
voltage applied to the circuit. In other words, an electric circuit represents the flow of
electrons along a conductive pathway between two points. This flow of electrons is

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Principles Of Engineering Activity 1.2.3 Electrical Circuits Simulation Answer Key – Page 2
 referred to as current. What causes the electrons to move? A motivation, or voltage,
causes the electrons to flow. Voltage refers to the potential difference, or amount of
work to be done to move a charge from one point to another along an electric circuit.
While electrons continuously flow along a given circuit, opposition to their movement
is referred to as resistance.

It is important to understand the mathematical equation for Ohm’s law. Use the
Ohm’s law table provided to work through activity practice problems and lab
calculations.
Ohm’s Law

Equation Variables Units Unit Symbols

Voltage V Volts V
Current  I Ampere  A
Re sis tan ce R Ohms 

Practice Calculations
Draw the circuit schematic.
Identify the known and unknown values for each circuit.
Provide the appropriate unit for each measurement.
Show all steps for each calculation.

1. On a camping trip, you decide to use a cordless air pump to inflate an inflatable
mattress. If the air pump is powered by a 9 volt battery with a resistance of 18
ohms, what is the amount of current flowing through the circuit?

Circuit Schematic Calculations

V
I
R
9V
  0.5A
18

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 2. A DJ uses a 110 volt outlet to plug in a strobe light. If the current flowing through
the light is 0.050 amps, how much resistance is within the circuit?

Circuit Schematic Calculations

V V V
I RI  R
R 1 I

110V
R  2200
0.050A

3. You finally found the MP3 player that you have wanted for months. While you are
waiting in the check-out line, you read the back of the packaging. The
manufacturer has guaranteed that the player will perform consistently with a
resistance of 40 ohms and a current of 0.1 amps. What is the voltage for the MP3
player?

Circuit Schematic Calculations

V
I IR  V V  IR
R

V   0.1A  40   4V

Constructing Circuits
Your team will construct a series and parallel circuit using the steps provided below.
Creating a Circuit
1. Launch Circuit Construction Kit from University of Colorado at Boulder:
http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/circuit-construction-kit-dc
2. Drag a battery from the circuit palate on the right. R-click on the battery and set
the voltage to 9 volts.

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3. Construct the circuit displayed below using the default bulb and a switch in the
open position. Note that your circuit will not look like the image below. You are to
interpret the schematic diagram to create a circuit. Check the voltage across the
light bulb. Record the measurements in the space provided below.

NOTE: When measuring voltage getting a positive or negative value is

dependent upon polarity or direction of flow. In other words, the 4.5V and -4.5V
could be taken from the same source depending on placement of the leads.

Voltage across bulb ___0___V

4. Close the switch so the bulb remains on. Obtain the voltage measurements
across the bulb and the power supply. Record the measurements in the space
provided below.
Bulb ___9___V Power Supply ___-9___V

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5. Check the current through the light bulb by adding an ammeter. Record the
measurements in the space provided below.
Current 0.90 A

6. Use the voltage (V) and current that you have already determined for this circuit
current (I) to determine the resistance of the bulb. Show your work and include
units.

Formula: V = R * I

Substitute values: 9 V = R * 0.90 A

Solve: R = 9 V / 0.90 A
R = 10 Ω

Resistance = 10 Ω

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Creating a Series Circuit
7. Use the image below to create a series circuit.

Current 0 A Voltage across battery 9 V

Voltage across bulb #1 0 V Voltage across bulb #2 0 V

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8. Close the switch. Record the new readings for the circuit.
Current 0.11 A Voltage across battery 9 V

Voltage across bulb #1 1.06 V Voltage across bulb #2 7.94 V

Add an ammeter between the bulbs and record the current.

Current between bulbs 0.11 A

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9. Use the voltage (V) and current that you have already determined for this series
circuit current (I) to determine the resistance of the bulbs in series. Show your
work and include units.

Formula: R= V/I

Substitute values: R= 9V / 0.11A

Solve: R = 81.8 Ω

Resistance = 81.8 Ω

Creating a Parallel Circuit

10. Create the circuit shown below with the switch open. Confirm that: bulb 1 is on
and bulb 2 is off.

Close the switch and record the following data.

What happened to brightness of the first bulb? Same as before

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Which bulb is brighter? Bulb 1

Current at bulb #1 0.90 A

Current at bulb #2 0.12 A

Current total 1.02 A

11. Add a voltmeter to the circuit. Record the voltages across each light and the
output source in the space provided below.

Bulb #1 9 V Bulb #2 9 V

Output at the battery 9 V

12. Calculate total resistance for the circuit. Show your work and include units.
1
Formula: RT 
1 1 1
+ +...+
R1 R2 Rn

1
Substitute and solve: RT 
1 1
+
10 75

RT____8.82_______ Ω

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Creating a Combination Circuit
13. Create the circuit shown below. The bulb #1 should still be on, the current meter
should have the same measurement as in step 8, and the bulb #2 and #3 should
be off. Close the switch button and note what happens to the first light. Refer to
the image below and record the new current measurement in the space provided
below the image.

Voltage across battery -9.0 V

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Voltage across bulb #1 9.0 V Voltage across bulb #2 1.06 V

Voltage across bulb #3 7.94 V

Current at bulb #1 0.90 A

Current at bulb #2 and #3 0.11 A

Current total 1.01 A

14. Calculate total resistance for the combination circuit. Show your work and include
units.

Formula: RT (series) = R1+R2+…+Rn

1
RT (parallel) 
1 1 1
+ +...+
R1 R2 Rn

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 Substitute and solve: Series branch: 10+75=85Ω
1
Parallel (combination) 
1 1
+
85 10
RT___8.95____ Ω
Conclusion

1. Explain the primary difference between a series and a parallel circuit.

A series circuit has only one path for current to flow, while a parallel circuit
has more than one path.
2. Explain the difference between the voltage output at the battery and the voltage
across each bulb in the series circuit.
Voltage across each bulb adds up to the total voltage from the battery in a
series circuit.
3. In a series circuit, explain the relationship between the current at the battery and
each bulb in the circuit.
Current is the same for the battery and bulbs
4. Explain the relationship between voltage at the battery and voltage across each
bulb in a parallel circuit.
Voltage across each bulb is the same as the voltage from the battery.
5. Explain the relationship between current at the battery and current through each
bulb in the parallel circuit.
The current in each branch of a parallel circuit adds up to the total current
flowing from the battery.
6. For the combination circuit, explain the relationship between the voltage output at
the interface and the voltage across the two light bulbs.
Voltage from the battery is the same as the voltage across each branch of
the circuit whether that branch itself is a series or parallel branch. The
voltage across each bulb of the series branch adds up to the total voltage
from the battery.
7. For the combination circuit, explain the relationship between the current output at
the battery and the current through each bulb in the parallel circuit.
The current in each branch of a parallel circuit adds up to the total current
flowing from the battery. The current in the series branch behaves the
same way as the series circuit. The current is the same at each point along
the branch.

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