1. Intro to Circuits Lab
Before we begin, note the following safety rules:
Handle wire ends with care as they may be sharp and could cause cuts.
There is minimal risk of electric shock because of the low currents used in this experiment. This experiment should not be carried out using current from an AC circuit, as this current is deadly.
The area under and around electrical equipment should be dry.
NO horseplay!
Materials required: 2 battery packs, 3 Christmas tree lights, two alligator clips

2. Make this circuit with a battery pack, alligator clips, and one light.
1. The ‘Base’ Circuit
Make this circuit with a battery pack, alligator clips, and one light.
This is our ‘base’ brightness. Brightness for right now will represent the amount of charge passing through the bulb per unit of time (current). X
**This is called a circuit schematic. It uses lines and shapes to represent circuits.

3. 2. The Series Circuit
PREDICT the brightness of each bulb compared to the ‘base’.
Now add the bulb. Were you correct? If not, explain what happened.
Take out a bulb. What happens?
What if 3 bulbs in series? X X

4. 3. The Parallel Circuit
PREDICT the brightness of each bulb compared to the ‘base’.
Now add the bulb. Were you correct? If not, explain what happened.
Take out a bulb. What happens?
What if 3 bulbs in parallel? X X

5. 4. The Mixed Circuit
PREDICT the brightness of each bulb compared to the ‘base’.
Now make the circuit. Were you correct? If not, explain what happened. X X X

6. 5. Another Mixed Circuit
PREDICT the brightness of each bulb compared to the ‘base’.
Now make the circuit. Were you correct? If not, explain what happened. X X X

7. 6. Flipped Circuit
PREDICT the brightness of each bulb compared to the ‘base’.
Now flip the circuit. Were you correct? If not, explain what happened. X X X

8. Now make the circuit. Were you correct? If not, explain what happened.
7. Another Battery
PREDICT the brightness of the bulb with 2 batteries in series compared to the ‘base’.
Now make the circuit. Were you correct? If not, explain what happened. X

9. Now make the circuit. Were you correct? If not, explain what happened.
8. Another Battery Part 2
PREDICT the brightness of the bulb with 2 batteries in parallel compared to the ‘base’.
Now make the circuit. Were you correct? If not, explain what happened. X