The lab report must include the following:
• Title
• Introduction
• Experimental Details or Theoretical Analysis
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusions and Summary
• References
Lab Activity
Please follow the steps given below to conduct the experiment:
• This lab requires you to produce a lab report
to determine “The Equivalent Resistance in Parallel and Series Settings.” This is
the “Title” of your lab report.
• Read the relevant chapter on resistance and add an “Introduction.”
You conduct this lab by connecting to the PhET website by clicking on the link given below
(or where applicable through the embedded simulation on the lab page):
For this experiment, you use the “Lab” section of the lab. After you click the lab
section of the lab, select the “Show Current (electrons),” “Labels,” and “Values”
tools (top right-hand side corner). Set the “Wire Resistivity” and “Battery
Resistance’ to zero in the scale. You may use the voltmeter and ammeters for your
experiment. Now you can use other tools on left-hand side as per the scenarios
given below and obtain the resistance values. This information constitutes
the “Experimental Details”section of the lab report. You must keep a record of all
relevant values as experimental values for each scenario. These values form part of
the “Results” section of the lab report. Now, complete the theoretical calculations
of resistance for each scenario using relevant equations. These calculated values
also form the “Results” section of the lab report.
• Now, you can complete the “Discussion” section of your lab report by comparing
the values and discussing any differences in the theoretical and experimental
values and any other information relevant to the experiment.
• Complete the lab report by adding a summary to the “Conclusion” section of your
lab report.
Lab Scenarios
1. Prepare a circuit using three resistors in parallel connected to two batteries in a
series next to each other. Note the total resistance, current, and voltage given by
the simulation in 4 different places of your choice. Calculate those values
theoretically. Both experimental and theoretical values are your results. Compare
the theoretical values with experimental values in your discussion part of the lab
report. You must provide a diagram of your circuit and show the 4 points you
selected.
2. Prepare a circuit using three resistors in series connected to two batteries. Note
the total resistance, current, and voltage given by the simulation in 2 different
places of your choice. Calculate those values theoretically. Both experimental and
theoretical values are your results. Compare the theoretical values with
experimental values in your discussion part of the lab report. You must provide a
diagram of your circuit and show the 2 points you selected.