This applet models the making of a circuit and also how one works. After this crash course on how
to use this applet, you will make a series circuit. This instruction manual will be for pc computers
and the firefox web browser. To view this manual for apple computers click here.
| Steps |
Description |
| Step 1: Opening the Applet |
Input:
- In the URL bar ("www" line, address bar, etc.) type
in http://www.falstad.com/circuit/. If that doesn't work you can go to google.com and
type circuit applet in the search bar. It should come up as the first one.
Output:
- Verify that A window comes up titled "Circuit Simulator Applet". This window will be
a text ("lettered") website, displaying instruction and giving other background information
about the applet. A few seconds later another window should pop up with a black background.
There should be a square on the screen with little dots moving around it. This is a circuit.
|
| Step 2: Verifying that you have the right applet. |
Input:
- Use your mouse and your eyes to scan the beginning circuit.
Output:
- Verify that the circuit has a switch, 2 resistors, capacitor, an inductor, and a
battery. Make sure that there are 3 graphs on the bottom of the screen. Verify that
there is a menu on the right side of the window with a reset button, a stop check box, and
simulation speed, current speed and power brightness slider bars.
|
| Step 3: Deleting components from the circuit.
| Input:
- Go to part of the circuit labeled "Capacitor" and right click it.
Output:
- Verify that a menu appears on the screen with the options edit, view in scope, or
delete.
Input:
Output:
- Verify that there the capacitor is now gone from the circuit.
|
| Step 4: Adding components to the circuit |
Input:
- First double-click anywhere in the black area of the window. Make sure you aren't
clicking on the applet. You double-click to make sure that you aren't affecting any
part of the applet.
- Then right click in the black area of the window.
Output:
- Verify that a menu appears with the options add wire, add resister, passive components,
input/outputs, active components, logic gates, chips, and other.
Input:
- Go to passive components and click add capacitor.
- Then click on the white circle from where you just deleted the capacitor off of the applet
and drag it to the other circle to connect the capacitor.
Output:
- Verify that the capacitor is now back on the screen.
|
| Step 5: Editting Values |
Input:
- Go to the battery in the circuit and right-click on it.
Output:
- Verify that a window appears that allows you to edit the component.
|
| Step 6: Closing the applet |
Input:
- Click the close button in the upper-left corner of the circuit applet window.
Output:
- Verify that the applet window is gone.
|
Using this applet, you will be making a series circuit. The components of the series circuit that
you will be making will be a switch, a battery, and a resister. All these are vital parts of the
circuit, that when put together correctly, will help you make a series circuit.
| Steps |
Description |
| Step 1: Opening the applet |
Input:
- Go back to the circuit text page and press "ctrl+R". This is done to reload the page
and to give you the original applet and applet values.
Output:
- Verify that the applet reloads and appears as it did when you first opened it.
|
| Step 2: Open the switch |
Input:
- Highlight the component labeled switch and click it.
Output:
- Verify that the switch is now open.
|
| Step 3: Delete the Capacitor |
Input:
- Highlight the Capacitor with your mouse and right-click and then click delete.
Output:
- Verify that the capacitor is gone.
|
| Step 4: Delete the Inductor |
Input:
- Highlight the Inductor with your mouse and right-click and then click delete.
Output:
- Verify that the inductor is now gone from the circuit.
|
| Step 5: Delete the short Resister |
Input:
- Highlight the short Resistor and right-click and then click delete.
Output:
- Verify that the short resistor is now gone from the applet.
|
| Step 6: Add a Wire |
When you look at your circuit you should have a battery, a switch, and a resistor.
Input:
- Double-click in the black area to make sure that you are not editting any components
of the circuit. Then right-click and click add wire.
- Connect the bottom legs of your circuit to make a square shape.
Output:
- Verify that your circuit looks like a square after you have added the wire.
|
| Step 7: Close the switch. |
Input:
- Highlight the switch with your cursor and click on it to close it.
Output:
- Verify that there are dots moving through the circuit. If there aren't any dots
you could try reconnecting your wire to our circuit again.
|
| Step 9: Changing the Battery voltage |
Input:
- Open the switch. Right-click the battery component and select edit. IN the window
where it says max voltage enter "10" into the text box and then click apply and ok. Then close the switch.
Output:
- Verify that the dots are moving around the circuit at a higher speed than it was when
the voltage was at 5.
|
| Step 10: Changing the Resistance |
Input:
- Open the switch. Then highlight the resistor with your cursor and right click. Then click edit from
the menu. Change the resistance to 100. Click apply and ok. Then close the switch.
Output:
- Verify that the dots are now moving slower along the circuit and that there is a "100" placed
above the resister.
|