Denny Gabriel 4/30/17

Physics 90 Minutes
Objective​:​To identify the effect of adding more light bulbs in a series electric circuit.

Research Question​:​How does adding more resistance in a series circuit affect the current?

Background Information:
A serie circuit is referred to a serie of devices connected and use electricity to bring over
a loop over and over. All the electricity flows one direction and the devices play roles on this
circuit. For example, the switch is use to turn on and off the circuit. Also there's another device
that's very common in these circuits, it will be the known as the resistor. During the loop the
energy/electricity will pass through the resistors because they are all in series. The purpose of
these resistors are to reduce or significantly decrease the rate or amount in which the
electricity/charges flow. This is known as current.Also equivalent resistance is the resistance
emitted by all of the resistors in the circuit. In a Series circuit (not parallel) the formula to find
equivalent resistance is R​eq​ = R​1​ + R​2​ + R​3​ + …To measure the current in a series circuit which
is the same everywhere is I​T​ = I​1​ = I​2​ = I​3​ =​ … ​To measure voltage drop in a series circuit it will
be V​T ​= V​1​ + V​2​ + V​3​ + ..

Materials​:
- 1 or 2 AA batteries (recommend 2)
- 4 light bulbs
- Nails
- Ammeter
- Voltmeter
- Holders(at least 6, necessary if you are making the circuit in a mat)
- Wood or styrofoam
- Wire cutter
- Insulated wire with stripped ends
- D or C-cells
Hypothesis:​ I think that in the series circuit, adding more light bulbs will
negatively affect the current and voltage.
Procedures:
- Build a serie circuit (simple) using one 1.5volt battery, one bulb and wire with stipped
ends
- Measure the current flowing in the circuit an ammeter
- Measure the voltage drop in the circuit using voltmeter
- Calculate the equivalent resistance
- Repeat steps using 2, 3, and 4 bulbs
Results:

Bulbs Voltage Current Resistance

1 3.06 v 0.18 A 17 Ω
2 3v 0.13 A 23 Ω
3 2.76 v 0.10 A 27.6 Ω
4 2.58 v 0.09 A 28.7 Ω

Data Analysis​:
During the experiment we had initial error of not connecting the circuit with a volt meter but
that later was addressed so we had to run the test over and over again. We were able to test it out
our different hypothesis and were able to come into realization on which one was correct. By
looking at our data, we see that the voltage and current decrease as more light bulbs are added
into the circuit. The reason this happen is because it goes along with Ohm’s law that adding more
resistors (which will make resistance greater) play direct role into decreasing the voltage and
current. Apply this into serie circuits and it remains true. For example , when there was 1 light
bulb the voltage was 3.06V and the current was .10A. We then tested 2 light bulbs next and
found the same results. The Voltage decreased to 3V and the current decrease to 0.13V which
proves Ohm’s law to be accurate. Light bulbs have resistors inside of them to prevent the light
bulb from too much charges passing through. Which it makes sense that the voltage and current
will decrease because of this.

Conclusion:
My hypothesis was correct, i thought back to ohm's law to come up with it. This lab helps us
understand the role of ohm's law in series circuit. Specially on the effects of adding more light
bulbs or similar things. We will able to identify the effects of the lights bulbs in this respected
circuit that we made. We were questioning​ the ​addition of more lights bulbs made the current
increase or not. But according to our data we were able to find out which was the correct one.
We are able to conclude the increase of resistance in series circuit results into the current and
voltage decreases. This is also true about in vice versa , if the voltage and current increased , it
means the resistance decreased. This helps me understand ohm’s law more clearly.