Task - In this experiment, you will be investigating various

properties of simple circuits when multiple resistors are attached in series parallel combinations
You will be using devices you are already familiar with: batteries, lightbulbs, resistors, rheostats,
wires, voltmeters, and ammeters.

For this experiment, your independent variable will be the

number of lightbulbs/resistors in your circuit. Remember to use at least five
different values of your independent variable.
In this experiment, your dependent variable should either be the voltage across each element in
your circuit OR the current through each element in your circuit. These are the two variables that
we have practiced measuring so far in this unit. Among the many variables you must control during
your experiment is the layout of your circuit. Think about how you will keep your circuit layout
consistent, even as you change your independent variable, and about how you will communicate
this to your reader.

Formative (criteria B)
Properties of simple circuit

Background information:
Electricity is a phenomenon caused by the flow of electrical charge. And an electric circuit is a
complete path which electricity travels through. Electrons are freely moving particles and the
particles inside the wire resist current from moving, which is how an increase of resistance
means less current.

CRITERIA B:-
Research question:
How does the amount of resistors in the circuit affect the amount of current across each element
in the circuit when the nature of material, length of wire, thickness of wire, and temperature of
the wire is kept the same?

Variables:
Independent variable - amount of resistors
This will be changed by putting in a different number of resistors from 1 resistor to 5 resistors in the
circuit. (1 resistor = 5 ohms, 2 resistors = 10 ohms, 3 resistors = 15 ohms, 4 resistors = 20 ohms, 5
resistors = 25 ohms)

Dependent variable - amount of current

This will be measured through the ammeter attached to each element in the circuit.

Control variables -

Control variable Why does it need to be controlled? How will it be controlled?

Nature of the material Resistance is dependent on the This will be controlled by

 volume a material has. If a conductor using the same wire with the
is being used (ex. silver), then there is same material for each
less resistance since the current will reading of the current.
easily be able to pass through and if
an insulator is being used (ex.
plastic), then there will be more
resistance because the current won’t
be able to pass through easily. So if
different materials are being used
throughout the experiment, then the
results may be invalid.

Length of the wire Resistance is increased when there is This will be controlled by
more contact with ions. If the wire is having the same wire and
longer, then the resistance will same length for it to be used
increase since there will be more throughout the experiment.
contact between the electrons and
ions. Resistance is directly
proportional to length (R=L). So if
different lengths of the wire are being
used for different readings or trials,
then the result won’t be accurate.

Thickness of the wire As mentioned, if the electrons have This will be controlled by
more contact with ions then there is using the same wire with the
more resistance. A thicker wire means same amount of thickness for
less resistance since there is more all the experiments and trials.
free space for electrons to pass
through without colliding with more
ions and a thin wire means greater
resistance since there is more contact
with ions. If the wires aren’t of the
same thickness throughout, then the
results won’t be accurate.

Temperature of the wire If there is a higher temperature, then This will be controlled by
the resistance increases since the firstly, using the same wire
flow of electrons gets slower. When throughout and secondly, be
there is heat, the ions vibrate and that keeping the circuit at the
causes difficult flow of the current. To
same place/locations for the
keep the results valid, it’s important
for the temperature to not differ. duration of the experiment
(ie. room temperature).

Voltage Voltage and current are directly This will be controlled by

proportional. If the voltage increases, using batteries of the same
then the current increases as well. voltage for every reading (4
And if a different voltage is used volts).
throughout the experiment, then the
dependent variable (current) will be
tampered with and valid results won’t
be received.

Hypothesis:
If the number of resistors are increased, then the current across each element in the circuit will
decrease because when resistance is increased, then the flow of electrons (current) in the
circuit becomes harder to pass through making current inversely proportional to resistance.

Apparatus:

Material Specifications

Wires - Double Ended Crocodile Clips Quantity - 10 wires

Electrical Cable Measurement - 8cm

Resistors Quantity - 5
Measurement - 5 ohms (each)

Ammeter Quantity - 1

Batteries Quantity - 1
Measurements - 5 volts

Method:
1) Firstly, collect all materials which includes the 10 wires with crocodile clips, 5 resistors,
ammeter, and battery.
2) Start putting the circuit in place, and attach one
wire to the resistor, one to the ammeter as the flow
moves ahead, and then lastly connect the battery.
3) Connect one side of the wire to the positive (+)
side of the battery and the other to the negative (-)
side of the battery.
4) Notice the scale in the ammeter and note down the
amperes of current.
5) Attach another resistor of 5 ohms next to the
original one and repeat steps 1-4 for all the more
resistors left to attach (3, 4, 5).
6) Always make sure whenever adding a new
resistor, detach the battery beforehand and then
attach it again after attaching the resistor.

Safety method:
1) Ensure your hair is tied properly.
2) Wear rubber gloves when working on the circuit.
3) Do not conduct the experiment barefoot.
4) Make sure none of the material (including your gloves) are wet.

Bibliography:
How to make a complete circuit with the switch?. byju. (n.d.).
https://byjus.com/question-answer/how-to-make-a-complete-circuit-with-the-switch/

What is resistance?. Open new window. (n.d.).

https://www.hioki.com/in-en/learning/electricity/resistance.html#:~:text=Resistance%20to%20electricity%E2%
80%93that%20is,expressed%20in%20ohms%20(%CE%A9).