Text Reference: Giancoli 19.6; Haliday, Resnick, Walker 27.9
Today we will study more complex circuits than the straight-forward series and parallel connections of resistors. You will set up two circuits: one involving the series and parallel combination of a number of elements, and the other involving a capacitor.
A standard way of building circuits is to first model them in a simulation program. For this lab, we will use a student version of a professional program called CircuitMaker. CircuitMaker student version is free and publically available for download and install. If you have any trouble with CircuitMaker student version, you can try any circuit simulator (plenty of free, online, also apps on smart devices). The typical generic circuit simulator is one that is based on SPICE (Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis). Another free program that is similar to CircuitMaker student edition is LTSpice IV. You can install CircuitMaker student directly from this lab manual without registering at any website. Please install CircuitMaker student - and see basic instructions and hints - by clicking here.
The two pre-labs are essential to be sure you know what you are doing when you get to lab. The second pre-lab uses an equation you are not familiar with, but you need to be able to understand what the variables are in order to use it.
Carry on.