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List of Learning Objects 

Name:   DC Circuits 1
Subject Area: Physics, Math
Version: 1.0  Date Posted: 1/24/03

Directions:

Click and drag the red slider to adjust the power supply voltage. Click the switch to open and close the switch.

Assume the internal resistance of the voltmeter is much larger than any resistance in the circuit.  Assume the internal resistance of the ammeter is much smaller than any resistance in the circuit.

General Questions:

Vary the  power supply voltage and the switch setting and list your observations.  

Describe the functional relationship between the current and the power supply voltage; between the voltage across the resistor and the power supply voltage.  

Simulation

Experimental

Take the data needed to determine the values of R2 and R3.

Take the data needed to establish the mathematical function that: (a) describes the dependence of the current on the power supply voltage; (b) describes the dependence of the voltage across the resistor as a function of the power supply voltage. ( No physics is needed to do this.)

Theoretical

Derive the theoretical relationship between (a) the current and the power supply voltage; (b) between the voltage across the resistor and the power supply voltage.   

Compare your theoretical relationships with graphs of your data.  Do they agree both in terms of the type of function involved and the values of any constants involved in the function?

Keyword Search Results

1.  Try the following search words at www.google.com. (Be sure to include the quotation marks.)

                                                                      Pages sited by Google

"Ohm's Law"                                               38,200

"DC Circuits"                                               20,100

"Series and Parallel Circuits"                          6,700

"Kirchoff's Laws"                                          3,410