Activity 4 - Bulbs in series and parallel

Circuit Construction Kit (DC Only)
Click to Run


You may use the applet given above to answer the following questions.

(A)The circuit below shows 3 identical bulbs.


  1. When the switch is closed, what are the relative brightness of the bulbs?
  2. How would the brightness of B change when the switch is opened? Justify your answer. 

(B) A series of bulbs are connected in different ways as illustrated by the circuits shown below.


  1.  What is the relative brightness of B1, B2 and B3?
  2. What does your observation tell you about the relative currents through the batteries? Justify your answer.