Series Circuits

Overview

Link to Experience: https://play.phenomena.app/player/0CWL25IlTjsc9T00QuUq

Topics: physics, electricity, resistance, current, voltage, series circuits

Grades: 8-12

Standards:

Duration to complete: 5 minutes

Learning outcome: Students will understand the relationship between voltage, resistance, and current in an electrical circuit.

In the Classroom

Pre-Experience (Things to Look Out For):

• We see electricity all around us — phones, lights, computers, refrigerators — but how does it actually work?

• Have you ever heard of a circuit? What is that? Should it be closed or open for electricity to be able to flow?

• You’ve probably seen signs for “High Voltage”, but what does that mean? Why is that dangerous? What happens when voltage increases?

• What about Current? What is electrical current and what units do we use to measure it?

• Why do some light bulbs consume more electricity than others?

Post-Experience (Things to Think About):

• In simple terms, what is the relationship between current, voltage, and resistance?

• By flipping a light switch, what are you interrupting that causes the light to turn off?

• Can you think of something to replace the lightbulb that would have higher resistance? What’s the highest-resistance thing you can think of?

• If this is a simple circuit, what do you think all the circuits in your house look like? What about all the circuits in a whole city? What does that look like?

• Does anyone know the voltage and current for an electric car? How many batteries would you need for that?