TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: One Path
Students learn that charge movement through a circuit depends on the resistance and arrangement of the circuit components. In a hands-on activity, students build and investigate the characteristics of series circuits. In another...
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Parallel Wires
A pair of parallel wires serves to illustrate a principle that French Scientist Andre-Marie Ampere was the first to comprehend, back in 1820. (Java tutorial)
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Bulbs & Batteries Side by Side
We are surrounded everyday by circuits that utilize "in parallel" and "in series" circuitry. Complicated circuits designed by engineers are made of many simpler parallel and series circuits. In this hands-on activity, students build...
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Electric Circuits: Circuit Builder
Students manipulate this virtual electronic circuit board where they can add resistors, light bulbs, wires, and ammeters to build a circuit, explore Ohm's law, and compare and contrast series, parallel, and combination circuits. Three...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Wired for Learning
As part of a unit on electrical circuits, students will work in collaborative groups to create a video of how to construct parallel and series circuits. This lesson plan was created as a result of the Girls Engaged in Math and Science...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Combined Series Parallel Circuits
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Presents methods for solving electrical circuit problems where there is a combination of series and parallel circuit features.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physics Simulation: Dollhouse
[Free Registration/Login Required] Learn about the analysis of parallel circuits in the context of a realistic household circuit using our interactive simulation. A PDF worksheet and a video tutorial are also available. [3:24]
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physics Simulation: Marquee Lights
[Free Registration/Login Required] Learn about different ways you can wire an electric circuit, and how the brightness of the lights depends on how they are configured using this interactive simulation. A PDF worksheet and a video...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Lighting the Way: Electrical Circuits and Lamp Wiring
Through a series of self-guided activities, students will explore basic electrical circuits and then build a working model of a circuit through the process of wiring a lamp. They will understand the flow of electrons through a circuit,...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Electric Circuits Guided Inquiry
An electrical circuit guided inquiry where students investigate what an electric circuit is, the main parts of a circuit and the difference between series and parallel circuits. Students groups create a circuit using materials provided...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Comparing Current Intensities of Series, Parallel, and Complex Circuits
Students will investigate the differences of current in series, parallel, and complex circuits through the construction of a small house containing the different types of circuits.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Introduction to Electric Circuits
This activity will show how to properly connect wires to make a closed electric circuit. Included in this will be how to connect batteries in series and/or in parallel, and how to properly measure potential drops across a resistor and...
Georgia State University
Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Ac Circuits
A very comprehensive site organized well with many topics dealing with AC circuits.
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Ap Physics 2: Electric Circuits
This unit teaches students the foundations of electrical circuits and introduces them to their simplest components. Covers series and parallel circuits, Kirchhoff's Rules, Ohm's Law, RC circuits, resistivity, and capacitance.
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: Series and Parallel Circuits
A teacher lesson plan which could be easily converted into an idea for a student project or presentation. Ideal for pre-high school young scholars. This page describes an activity in which the history of electric circuits, the nature of...
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: Resistances in Series and Parallel Circuits
A teacher lesson plan is provided here. This page describes two activities in which the effect of multiple resistors on the current and overall resistance of both series and parallel circuits are investigated. Complete activity...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Resistors in Series and Parallel Review
Review how to find the equivalent resistance for resistors in parallel and series configurations. Recall the current and voltage properties of series and parallel configurations of resistors.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Lights On!
Students in this activity will build simple circuits using a battery, wires, and light bulbs. This activity allows students to examine how electricity is conducted through a light bulb using a battery as a power source. Students will...
Concord Consortium
Concord Consortium: Dc Circuits: Series Parallel Resistances (Sparks 3)
Answer questions regarding voltage drops across resistors and currents through them in such circuits. Practice calculating the effective resistances of a set of resistances in series and parallel.
Science4Fun
Science4 Fun: Electronic Circuit
What is an electronic circuit? Resource provides a discussion of series, parallel, and series-parallel circuits plus more.
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: Batteries and Bulbs
For the teacher planning a lesson or for the student preparing for a project or presentation. This page describes an activity in which parallel and series circuits are constructed using batteries and bulbs. Complete activity directions...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Steady State Direct Current With Batteries & Resistors Only
In this interactive tutorial, students will analyze series circuits and parallel circuits along with complex circuits composed of elements in series and parallel. Learners will use schematics to help them understand these circuits....
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Many Paths
Students explore the composition and practical application of parallel circuitry, compared to series circuitry. Students design and build parallel circuits and investigate their characteristics, and apply Ohm's law.
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: Electric Currents and Circuits
This cooperative learning activity for intermediate to junior high young scholars has them create various electrical circuits in order to understand electricity.