K6-12: SERIES/PARALLEL LIGHT CIRCUIT CONUNDRUM

ID Code: K6-12
Purpose: Test your ability to analyze series/parallel circuit.
Description: The circuit shown above uses three 1.5 volt batteries (a total of 4.5 volts) and five identical 1.5 volt light bulbs. In the photograph all of the switches are OFF, so none of the light bulbs is lit. The question is to rank the light bulbs in order of brightness when all of the switches are closed, putting all of the bulbs in the series/parallel circuit. The solution is shown below.
Availability: Available

See the Physics Question of the Week for 4/13/2015 for an example of how this demonstration can be used in class interaction and discussion: lecdem.physics.umd.edu/question-of-the-week-archive.html