compare the difference between three LEDs in series and parallel

Build the following circuits on the circuit board with a 6V battery pack and compare. Be very careful to build the circuits as specified, paying close attention to which components should be parallel or in series.

  1. three LEDs and one 150 ohm resistor in series
  2. one 470 ohm resistor and three parallel LEDs
  3. two 470 ohm resistors and three LEDs in series
  4. two parallel 470 ohm resistors feeding into three LEDs in series
  5. one 150 ohm resistor for two parallel LEDs, each with its own switch

Take photos of each of your circuits.

Answer the following questions about the circuits.

  1. In the series circuits (resistors in series or LEDs in series), what happens when you remove one of the series components?
  2. In the parallel circuits, what happens when you remove one of the components?
    1. What about the resistors?
    2. What about the LEDs?
  3. What behavior do you notice in the circuit with two switches?

Put your photos and answers to the questions on an assignment page on the wiki.

  • electronics-series-parallel.txt
  • Last modified: 18 months ago
  • by renick