Objectives - Electric Circuits
The Minds On Physics program consists of 15 modules. Each module covers a different topic and consists of a varying number of assignments. Every assignment addresses one or two objectives. The objectives for the Electric Circuits module are listed below.
- Assignment 1:
- The student should be able to recognize current as the rate
at which charge flows past a point, identify the units for
electric current, and perform simple computations regarding
electric current.
- The student should be able to identify the conditions which
are necessary for an electric current to be established within
a circuit and recognize that the current is the same everywhere
within the circuit.
- Assignment 2:
- The student should be able to identify the definition of
voltage, the units of voltage, and relate voltage to the
electric potential difference between two points on a
circuit.
- The student should be able to recognize the role of a
battery as a charge pump which establishes an electric
potential difference across its terminals so that charge can
spontaneously flow through the external circuit.
- Assignment 3:
- The student should be able to identify the units of work
(and energy), of power and of voltage and be able express an
understanding of the meaning of such concepts.
- The student should be able to solve simple computational
problems which focus on the relationship between work (and
energy), voltage, and charge.
- Assignment 4:
- The student should be able to identify the definition of
resistance, the units of resistance, and the factors effecting
the amount of resistance in a circuit.
- The student should be able to predict the effect of varying
voltage and resistance upon the current in a circuit and upon
the brightness of a light bulb.
- Assignment 5:
- The student should be able to solve simple computational
problems which relate the voltage, resistance and current for a
simple circuit.
- Assignment 6:
- The student should be able to solve computational problems
which relate the current to the power and the voltage and
problems which relate the current and voltage to the work (or
energy) and time.
- The student should be able to solve computational problems
which relate the cost of electricity and the time an electrical
device is used to circuit variables such as power, current,
voltage and resistance.
- Assignment 7:
- The student should be able to identify a series circuit if
given a circuit diagram, to identify the effect of an
increasing number of resistors in series upon the equivalent
resistance, and to determine the equivalent resistance of a
series circuit if given individual resistance values.
- The student should be able to identify the effect of
varying the number of resistors, varying resistance, and
varying battery voltage upon the total circuit current and the
bulb brightness of a series circuit.
- The student should be able to compare the voltage drop
across resistors in a series circuit and be able to identify
the effect of increasing number of resistors upon the voltage
drop across an individual resistor in a series circuit.
- Assignment 8:
- The student should be able to identify a parallel circuit
if given a circuit diagram, to identify the effect of an
increasing number of resistors in parallel upon the equivalent
resistance, and to determine the equivalent resistance of a
parallel circuit if given individual resistance values.
- The student should be able to identify the effect of
varying the number of resistors, varying resistance, and
varying battery voltage upon the total circuit current and the
bulb brightness of a parallel circuit.
- The student should be able to compare the voltage drop
across resistors in a parallel circuit and be able to identify
the effect of increasing number of resistors upon the voltage
drop across and current through an individual resistor in a
parallel circuit.
- Assignment 9:
- The student should be able to mathematically analyze a
series circuit to determine the equivalent resistance, the
total circuit current and the voltage drop across a resistor
(if given the battery voltage and the resistance of each
resistor).
- Assignment 10:
- The student should be able to mathematically analyze a
parallel circuit to determine the equivalent resistance, the
total circuit current, the voltage drop across each resistor,
and the current through each branch (if given the battery
voltage and the resistance of each resistor).
- Assignment 11:
- The student should be able to mathematically analyze a
combination circuit to determine the equivalent resistance, the
total circuit current and the current through each resistor (if
given the battery voltage and the resistance of each
resistor).
- Assignment 12:
- The student should be able to identify a circuit as being
either parallel or series and mathematically analyze the
circuit to determine the equivalent resistance, the total
circuit current, the voltage drop across each resistor, and the
current through each resistor (if given the battery voltage and
the resistance of each resistor).