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Learning Introductory Physics with Activities

Section 26.5 Challenge - Circuits: Capacitors

Explanation 26.5.1. Circuit I.

Figure 26.5.1. Circuit diagram.
Bulb A in the top circuit above is replaced by a battery, as shown in the bottom circuit above. Does the brightness of light bulbs B and C increase, decrease, or remain the same? Please include separate reasoning (part 2) and conclusions (part 3) for each bulb.

Explanation 26.5.2. Circuit 2.

Figure 26.5.2. Circuit diagram.
The circuit above includes five identical linear resistors with resistance 5 \(\Omega\text{.}\) The battery provides 32 V.
Identify the resistor(s) with the lowest current and determine this amount of current. Show your work and describe your problem-solving process.
Tip.
Create a voltge diagram for each branch of this circuit.

Explanation 26.5.3. Create a Circuit.

You have two identical batteries, two identical resistors, and two identical capacitors (you also have infinite ideal wires). Sketch the circuit that includes all of the circuit elements that will cause the capacitors to charge in the least amount of time (safely!).

Subsection Metacognitive Reflection

Look back over the activities you have done over the last two weeks and reflect on a time when you may have made an incorrect prediction. What was your prediction and why was it incorrect? How did you resolve it? If you did not make an incorrect prediction, reflect on something that surprised you about the behavior of a circuit. Reference specific circuits in your reflection.