Physics Demo Number: 070

Approximate Run Time: 5 min

Series and Parallel Connections With The Aid of Three Light Bulbs in Dedicated Socket Apparatus

Demo Description

Three incandescent light bulbs are connected either in series or in parallel.

One may demonstrate the effects of what happens in each case if a wire or a bulb is disconnected.

Scientific Principles

Series and parallel electrical circuit configurations.

Equipment

Apparatus with three incandescent light bulbs that can be connected in series or in parallel .

Equipment Location

The pictured apparatus resides on [A-2-1].

Instructions

The pictured apparatus allows one to hook three incandescent light bulbs up in various series and parallel configurations.

This can be accomplished in a highly-visible and conceptually-transparent manner thanks to the machine shop help in designing the apparatus with two copper strips, labeled '3', and two more copper strips labeled '2'.

The strips labeled '3' show the parallel connection, while the strips labeled '2' show the series connection of the bulbs for easy viewing from the back of the room,

The bulbs are 12V dc and run from batteries for safer operation than the old 120 Vac setup afforded.

Writeup created by David A. Burba

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