Activity Description

This activity uses the Circuit Construction Kit from the Phet website. Students are shown a circuit with two 10 ohm light bulbs connected in parallel with a 9 V battery.

Target Conceptual Difficulty

Adding resistors in parallel increases current in contrast to a common student conception that more resistors in will always decrease current.

PowerPoint

Predict and Explain Task - Adding a Resistor in Parallel (TurningPoint)

Predict and Explain Task - Adding a Resistor in Parallel (iClicker)

Simulation

http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/circuit-construction-kit-dc

Click on the link Play with Sims. Then in the left frame Click on the link Electricity, Magnets, and Circuits, then click on the icon for Circuit Construction Kit. Once the simulation starts, click on load and then browse to and run the following file. PET Add a Resistor in Parallel

Presentation Notes

To demonstrate the correct answer to the students, click and drag another light bulb and connect it at the gap in the circuit.

Student Results

No student results are available for this activity.

Pen and Paper Actvivities

Pen and Paper version of this activty

Follow up tipers from homework assignments, test reviews and test items