Practical Electric Circuitry Lab
Train circuit build-and-repair logic, correct meter placement, rheostat use, and reading-table workflow for O Level practical questions.
Learning goals
- Recognise and interpret circuit symbols for cells, batteries, switches, lamps, LEDs, resistors, fuses, ammeters and voltmeters
- Draw circuit diagrams with cells, batteries, switches, lamps, LEDs, fixed and variable resistors, fuses, ammeters and voltmeters
- Recognise and interpret circuit symbols for d.c. and a.c. supplies, potentiometers, bells, light-dependent resistors and thermistors
- Draw circuit diagrams with d.c. and a.c. supplies, potentiometers, bells, light-dependent resistors and thermistors
- Apply the same-current rule in series circuits
Learning objectives
- Recognise and interpret circuit symbols for cells, batteries, switches, lamps, LEDs, resistors, fuses, ammeters and voltmeters
- Draw circuit diagrams with cells, batteries, switches, lamps, LEDs, fixed and variable resistors, fuses, ammeters and voltmeters
- Recognise and interpret circuit symbols for d.c. and a.c. supplies, potentiometers, bells, light-dependent resistors and thermistors
- Draw circuit diagrams with d.c. and a.c. supplies, potentiometers, bells, light-dependent resistors and thermistors
- Apply the same-current rule in series circuits
- Apply the potential-difference sum in series circuits
- Apply current conservation at parallel junctions
- Apply equal potential difference across parallel branches
- Calculate effective resistance in series
- Calculate effective resistance in parallel
- Solve whole-circuit problems using consistent quantities
The bench has 12 parts. The switch is open. The lamp is off. The ammeter reads 0.000 amperes; the voltmeter reads 0.00 volts.
- Current from the cell
- 0.000 A
- Terminal p.d. of the cell
- 3.00 V
- Lamp resistance from your meters
- — Ω
Try this
0 of 4 doneClose the switch and measure the lamp: ammeter in series, voltmeter across the lamp. (not done yet)
An ammeter goes in series so the lamp's current passes through it; a voltmeter goes across the lamp to compare the potential at its two ends.
Use the rheostat to change the current, and record at least five readings. (not done yet)
Your I–V points curve: the lamp's resistance rises as its filament heats up.
Load “Fault: voltmeter in series” and repair the circuit so you can measure the lamp. (not done yet)
A voltmeter has a very large resistance, so in series it lets almost no current through.
Light two lamps in parallel so each has the full supply p.d. (not done yet)
Parallel branches share the same p.d.; the cell supplies the sum of the branch currents.
Your readings
| # | V / V | I / A | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|
| No readings yet. Set up a measurement, then record it. | |||