ACTIVITY – DC VIRTUAL LAB SOFTWARE 1

 

DESCRIPTION


The University of Colorado has created many interactive online tools related to science.  One of them is called the Circuit Construction Kit – DC Virtual Lab.  It allows you to build simple circuits inside an interactive online tool.

 

LINK

 

https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/circuit-construction-kit-dc-virtual-lab/latest/circuit-construction-kit-dc-virtual-lab_en.html

 

INSTRUCTIONS

 

Follow the steps below to get familiar with this software.  The steps in blue indicate that you need to capture your screen to be able to show your work at a later point.

 

OUR FIRST CIRCUIT

A series circuit consisting of a battery, switch and lightbulb.
 
EXPLORATION OF BASICS

  1. Create the circuit by dragging in and connecting different components together.

  2. Get familiar with how to break a circuit at a joint and how to delete an element from the circuit.

  3. Under the menu with the components on the left, you will see a small image of a battery and a small battery symbol beside it.  Try toggling between the two to see how your circuit changes.  Use the one you prefer.

  4. Once all connected, try to toggle the switch between opened and closed.  The lightbulb should go on and off.  Leave the switch closed.

  5. In the menu at the top right, put a checkmark beside the word Values to see some of the characteristics of the devices in the circuit.

  6. Turn down the resistance of the lightbulb to 0 ohms.  Notice what happens to the bulb and what happens to the battery.

  7. Turn up the resistance for the lightbulb to the maximum value.  Notice what happens to the brightness of the bulb.

 

  1. Return the resistance of the lightbulb to 10 ohms.

  2. Now try changing the voltage of the battery.  Notice how it impacts the brightness of the bulb.  Return the voltage to 10 volts.

  3. In the menu at the top right, under Show Current, try toggling between Electrons and Conventional flow.  Notice what happens to the current flow in the circuit.

EXPLORATION OF THE VOLTMETER

 

  1. Drag a voltmeter out beside your circuit.  Measure the voltage drop over the light bulb by placing one probe on one side of the bulb and the other on the other side of the bulb.  Notice how the voltage drop reading compares to the battery.

    Note: Notice that you are actually connecting the voltmeter in parallel with the lightbulb.

  2. Switch the probes around so that the black one goes to where the red one was and the red one goes to where the black one was.  Notice how the reading on the voltmeter changes.

    Note: Generally, the black probe should be on the negative side of the load and the red probe should be on a the positive side of the load.

  3. Take a screen capture of your circuit with a voltmeter in it in case your teacher wants to see evidence that you did the work.

 

EXPLORATION OF THE AMMETER

 

  1. Insert an ammeter into the circuit.  Remember that it has to be in series in the circuit.  Make sure you get a reading for current.

  2. Set the voltage of the battery to 15 volts.  Set the resistance in the lightbulb to 10 ohms.  According to Ohm’s Law, the current should be equal 15 divided by 10, so 1.5 amps.  Confirm that that is the case.

  3. Remove the ammeter.  Insert a new one but place it parallel to the lightbulb.  Notice what happens.  You are creating a short as there is no resistance in the ammeter so all current goes through that path.

    Note:  Doing this in the real world can be dangerous and can cause damage to your multimeter.  This is creating a short circuit.

  4. Take a screen capture of your circuit in its final state in case your teacher wants to see evidence that you did the work.