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Activity 2: Introduction to Circuits II: Multimeters and Capacitors

Last time we spent some time building parallel and series circuits and studied switches, LEDs, and Logic gates. Today, we will construct another nineteen different circuits to study: Capacitors Multimeters Batteries in parallel and in series Photoresistors Variable Resistors

E X P E R I M E N T I N G Snap Circuits, Capacitors, and Multimeters!

MULTIMETER OVERVIEW/TIPS: 1. Multimeters can be used to measure current, voltage, and resistance. When measuring voltage you are measuring the voltage ACROSS the circuit element you are looking at, while current is measured THROUGH a circuit elemernt. This means that to measure voltage your multimeter needs to be connected PARALLEL to the circuit element in question, and to measure current the multimeter needs to be connected in SERIES to the circuit element. 2. When using a multimeter, please keep in mind: a. The ground/common/black plug/probe ALWAYS stays at the same spot, but the other plug/probe needs to be adjusted. Normally there are three options: High Current (I >1 A,e.g.), Low Current (I <1 A, e.g.), and Anything Else. b. The multimeter is NOT a mind-reading device. You need to adjuct the dial to what you are trying to measure (V, I, etc.).

In groups of two, please construct the following nineteen Snap Circuits projects (make sure

to measure all static voltages across resistors, diodes, and capacitors, as well as all distinct currents): Project #80: Lamp, Speaker & Fan in Parallel (Required: V across all three, I through all three) Project #102: Batteries in Series (V across D1, D2, R1, I through whole circuit) Project #152: Series Lamps (from now on please figure out which measurements are needed) Project #153: Parallel Lamps Project #172: Red & Green Control Project #173: Current Controllers Project #174: Current Equalizing Project #175: Battery Polarity Tester Project #272: Photoresistor Control Project #273: Microphone Control Project #276: LED Fan Rotation Indicator Capacitors: Project Project Project Project Project Project Project #164: #165: #203: #204: #205: #235: #296: Capacitors in Series Capacitors in Parallel Make your own Battery Make your own Battery II Make your own Battery III Capacitor Charge and Discharge Leaky Capacitor

A N A L Y Z I N G

For each of the nineteen Snap Circuits built, please complete the following four tasks: 1. Construct a circuit diagram which includes all measured static voltages and currents. 2. Explain how the circuit works. 3. Give an example of how such a circuit could be (or is) used. Once you have completed all required tasks please collate everything in one Word document and upload in Schoology.