Activity Description

This activity uses the Circuit Construction Kit from the Phet website. Students are shown four identical ideal batteries connected across various numbers of series resistors. They then rank the potential difference measured across each battery once the circuits are powered. A simulated voltmeter is uded to provide the correct answer.

Target Conceptual Difficulty

A battery is a source of constant potential difference.

PowerPoint

Ranking Task Activity for Terminal Voltage of Ideal Battery (Turning Point)

Ranking Task Activity for Terminal Voltage of Ideal Battery (iClicker)

Simulation

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

Click on the Link in the Left Frame for 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. Ranking Task for Ideal Battery Simulation

Presentation Notes

To demonstrate the correct answer to the students, click on the box marked Voltmeter underneath tools on the right pane. The leads of the voltmeter can then be dragged to measure the terminal voltage of the battery.

Student Results

Student Predictions for ranking of terminal voltage of the batteries. 54% of the students correctly ranked the terminal voltages as all equal, although only 45% of the students gave the correct reasoning.

Pen and Paper Actvivities

Pen and Paper version of this activty

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