Series and Parallel Circuits

Student Worksheet:

 Instructions
You are the engineer!  You need to design a system where one switch can turn on multiple lights! An example might be a string of holiday lights. Now, construct both a series circuit and a parallel circuit using the batteries, wires, and bulbs provided to you.  Your series circuit will look something like the drawing below:

Draw your own diagram below that illustrates how your Parallel Circuit will look:

	
      Series and Parallel Circuits

Student Worksheet (continued):

 Group Predictions
After you have constructed both a series and parallel bulb circuit, make some predictions on the following as a group:

1.  Do you think holiday lights are an example of parallel or series bulbs in a circuit?  Explain why:

2.  Do you think the bulbs in the parallel circuit or the series circuit will burn brighter?  Explain why:

3.  If you remove a bulb in your parallel circuit, will the other bulb(s) still light?  Explain why:

4.  If you remove a bulb in your series circuit, will the other bulb(s) still light?  Explain why:

 Test and Results

Now test your predictions for questions 2, 3 and 4 above.  Then respond to the questions below:

1.  Were your predictions about the brightness of the bulbs accurate?  If not, what happened that was different from what your group expected?

2.  Were your predications about what happened if a bulb was removed from the parallel and serial circuits accurate?  If not, what happened that was different from what your group expected?