March&17,&2015&

Kirchhoffs Laws (Lab)

Secondary 4: Science and Technology (Enriched)
Student Teacher: Emily Crowell
Cooperating Teacher: Pamela Leger
McGill Supervisor: Laura Odorico
Learning Objectives
Describes the distribution of current in various components of an electrical circuit.
Determines the value of the current flowing in various components of a series or
parallel circuit.
Describes the distribution of the voltage across various components of an electrical
circuit.
Determines the value of the voltage across various components of a series or parallel
circuit.
Cross-Curricular Competencies
Cooperates with others
-Students will work in pairs. They will plan and carry out work with their partner. In
order to work effectively together, both members of each team must carry out his/her
task according to the rules agreed on by the team.
Science and Technology Competencies

Seeks answers or solutions to scientific or technological problems

-Students will identify the elements that seem relevant (voltage and intensity) and the
relationships between them.
-Students will look for significant patterns or relationships. (Between voltage and
intensity in series/parallel circuits)
-Students will gather all useful data and take note of observations from their circuits.

Self-Directed Teaching Skill

-Use of group work
-Use of student centered review
Technology Used
-powerpoint (pictures-review)
-blackboard

Materials
-Kirchhoffs lab materials (multimeter, ammeter, resistor, light bulb, wires, power
supply)
-Lab sheet
Procedure
Introduction
-Collection of any homework.
-Review of Series/Parallel circuits and how voltage and intensity are related in each of
these kinds of circuits.

I will ask questions such as:

-What is the difference between series and parallel?
-Can someone explain voltage in a series/parallel circuit? (according to Kirchhoff)
-Can someone explain intensity in a series/parallel circuit? (according to
Kirchhoff)

I will also use pictures and ask students to help explain what is happening to
voltage and intensity in different circuits.

My goal is to achieve participation from a high number of students in the class. I

will achieve this by using wait time this is a review so I should see many hands
ready to answer questions, not just 1 or 2.
(15 mins)
Development

- Explain todays lab.

Hand out lab document.

Today students will be working for the first time using Y-wires. I will do a
demo to show students how to incorporate them into their circuits.

I will read each question and note that each questions worth is noted just beside
the questions themselves. I will also tell students what they need to include to
earn all their points.

Students may work in pairs, but they must work only where a station has been
previously set-up (so they are spread out throughout the classroom)

I will also indicate that they must complete their pre-lab questions before
heading off to do the lab.

- Students go to work on their labs.

- I will circulate and answer questions.
(50 mins)
Closure
To assess whether the learning goal was met:
-Students will complete a journal entry, which I will collect, where students will
complete the following sentences:
I really understood this idea
I have a few questions about before I can say I understand
I am still confused about
Id like to learn more about
(10 mins)
Anticipated Problems & Proposed Solutions
Problem:
-Students may be unsure of their circuit set-up. This often has to do with how to use the
multimeter.
Solution:
-If I see that this is something more than one pair is struggling with, I will stop the lab
and bring students focus on myself to remind them how to measure voltage using a
multimeter.
Problem:
-Lab equipment that stops working (this has already happened in previous labs).
Solution:
-Have back-up materials ready.
Evaluation
See Teachers version of lab on following page.

Teachers Version
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Kirchhoffs Laws

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GOAL:!
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Confirm&Kirchhoffs&laws&in&a&series&circuit&and&a&parallel&circuit.&
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PRE*LAB!QUESTIONS:!
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1. How&do&Kirchhoffs&laws&(about&Itotal&and&Vtotal)&apply&to&a&series&circuit?&Explain&
your&answer,&providing&relevant&formulas.&&&&&&&&&
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0.5&for&Intensity&formula&
0.5&for&Voltage&formula&
1&for&Intensity&explanation&
1&for&Voltage&explanation&
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2. How&do&Kirchhoffs&laws&(about&Itotal&and&Vtotal)&apply&to&a&parallel&circuit?&Explain&
your&answer,&providing&relevant&formulas.&&&&&& &
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&&&&&&&&/3&
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0.5&for&Intensity&formula&
0.5&for&Voltage&formula&
1&for&Intensity&explanation&
1&for&Voltage&explanation!
!
MATERIALS:!!
(list&all&materials&used)&&&&&&& &
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&&&&&&&&/2&
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2&points&for&listing&all&materials&
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(L0.5&if&one&missing,&L1&if&half&missing,&L1.5&if&most&missing)&
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OBSERVATIONS:!
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Record&your&observations&in&the&tables&below.&Give&each&table&a&title.&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&/6&
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1&point&for&each&title&(total&2)&
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2&points&for&completing&each&table&(total&4)&
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!

Title:&_________________________________________________________________________________________&
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Current&Intensity&(A)&
Point&in&Circuit&(A1,&A2,&etc.)&
Circuit&A&
Circuit&B&
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Title:&_________________________________________________________________________________________&
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Circuit&Element/&Component&
Potential&Difference&(Voltage)&(V)&
(ex.&Power&supply,&lightbulb,&
Circuit&A&
Circuit&B&
resistance)&
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REFLECTING!ON!YOUR!OBSERVATIONS!
!
1.&Is&circuit&A&a&series&circuit&or&a&parallel&circuit?&Explain&your&answer.&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&/2&
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1&point&for&correct&answer&
1&point&for&explanation&
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2.&Is&circuit&B&a&series&circuit&or&a&parallel&circuit?&Explain&your&answer.&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&/2&
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1&point&for&correct&answer&
1&point&for&explanation&
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3.&For&each&circuit,&which&measurement&represents&the&total&current&intensity?&
Explain.&
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&&&&&&&/2&
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1&point&for&correct&answer&
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1&point&for&explanation&

&
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4.&For&each&circuit,&which&measurement&represents&the&total&potential&difference&
(voltage)?&Explain.&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
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&&&&&&&&/2&
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1&point&for&correct&answer&
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1&point&for&explanation&
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5.&Use&your&observations&for&circuit&A&to&confirm&Kirchhoffs&laws.&Show&your&
calculations.&& &
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&&&&&&&&/4&
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1&point&for&equation&
1&point&for&using&numbers&found&in&tables&
2&points&for&calculations&(L0.5&for&wrong&or&missing&units)&
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6.&Use&your&observations&for&circuit&B&to&confirm&Kirchoffs&laws.&Show&your&
calculations.&& &
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&&&&&&&&/4&
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1&point&for&equation&
1&point&for&using&numbers&found&in&tables&
2&points&for&calculations&(L0.5&for&wrong&or&missing&units)&
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