Science 9: Characteristics of Electricity
Circuit Activities

Based on outcomes from: Static Electricity and Electric Current
Students will be able to
•	 describe the flow of charge in an electrical circuit and describe the factors affecting the amount of resistance in a wire (109-14, 308-16)

Based on outcomes from: Series and Parallel Circuits
Students will be able to
•	rephrase questions in a testable form related to series and parallel circuits (208-1)
•	use an ammeter and a voltmeter to measure current and voltage in series and parallel circuits (209-3)
•	describe series and parallel (maximum two resistors) circuits involving varying resistance, voltage, and current, using Ohm’s Law:
-	draw circuit diagrams, using current symbols for a cell, switch, battery, lamp, resistor, multirange meter (308-17)

Hands-on:

1. Use the available equipment to build different circuits. Sketch your circuit(s) and make some jot notes about things you notice while you are building them. Consider the following ideas and questions as you work.

Questions to consider as you work:
a.	Try including different items such as lights, buzzers, and motors. Is there a difference when you add additional items (resistance)?
b.	Can you use switches to turn on different parts of a circuit?
c.	What happens to the amount of current and the voltage in a circuit as you change the items included?

Constructing Circuits:

Test various types of series and parallel circuits, using voltmeters (measuring voltage) and ammeters (measuring current) to investigate the changes that take place when you:

a.	change the number of dry cells in the circuit
b.	change the number of light bulbs in the circuit
c.	use different resistors (buzzers or motors)
d.	use a mixture of light bulb and other resistors (buzzers, motors) in the circuit

Information collected can be recorded in table form. A sample recording sheet is included here.
Series circuits have all parts of the circuit in a single loop of wire connections, such as the following examples. 

Connect voltmeters across a resistance, such as a light bulb.

V

1.		

2.		

3.		

Connect ammeters in series in your circuits.

4.		

Parallel circuits split into branches with different pieces of equipment in each branch, such as the following examples:

Connect voltmeters across a branch of a parallel circuit.

5.		

6.		

Connect ammeters in series, even within a branch of your parallel circuit.

A

7.		

Record Sheet (Grade 9)

Record your findings for your various circuits:

Series or Parallel	Sketch of circuit	Number of dry cells	Number of light bulbs	Relative brightness of lights	Voltage	Current