Understanding Circuits for Manufacturing

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To help students visually comprehend concepts, PhET simulations animate what is invisible to the eye through the use of graphics and intuitive controls such as click‐and‐drag manipulation, sliders and radio buttons. In order to further encourage quantitative exploration, the simulations also offer measurement instruments including rulers, stop‐watches, voltmeters and thermometers. As the user manipulates these interactive tools, responses are immediately animated thus effectively illustrating cause‐and‐ effect relationships as well as multiple linked representations (motion of the objects, graphs, number readouts, etc.)

The simulations were developed by University of Colorado at Boulder.

PhET provides fun, interactive, research‐based simulations of physical phenomena. The program(s) enables students to make connections between real‐life phenomena and the underlying science, deepening their understanding and appreciation of the physical world.

Courses In This Program

Series Circuits Lab

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The following experiment is designed to illustrate the major characteristics of a series circuit. It will provide experience in measuring and calculating electrical quantities in series circuits.

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Parallel Circuits Lab

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The following experiment is designed to illustrate the major characteristics of a parallel circuit. It will provide experience in measuring and calculating electrical quantities in parallel circuits.

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Ohm’s Law Lab

Screen shot of resistance in a wire lab

In this experiment you will study the principles of Ohm’s law by examining the basic relationships of voltage, current, and resistance in an electric circuit.

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Introduction to Electrical Circuit Simulation

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This laboratory activity will introduce the student to use of the Circuit Construction Interactive Simulation tool that will be utilized to further investigate electrical concepts and circuits. PhET provides fun, interactive, research‐based simulations of physical phenomena. The program(s) enables students to make connections between real‐life phenomena and the underlying science, deepening their understanding and appreciation of the physical world.

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Conductors and Insulators Lab

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In the following experiment, you will determine which materials are conductors and which are not.

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Complex Circuits Lab

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This lab activity provides experience in constructing and measuring complex circuits.

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Alternating Current Lab

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The following experiment demonstrates fundamental characteristics of a sine wave, provides practice in converting the peak value to a peak to peak value, and gain an understanding of Root mean square (RMS) or effective values.

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