The Ohm Depot
Page 13 - Snap circuits: batteries in series
If we added another battery to the circuit, it would increase the voltage of the components(amount of volts flowing through the circuit). However the current (amps) and resistance (ohms) would be the same. Using the equation resistance (ohms) = voltage (volts) / current (amps), we would figure out that the resistance increases. Using the equation power (watts) = voltage (volts) x current (amps)
page 14 - snap circuits: Batteries in parallel
You might want to use the batteries in series so that the LED would burn brighter; however, having the higher voltage would use up all of the volts in the batteries much faster. If you want the LED to burn as if it only has one battery, but for a longer time then you might want to use the batteries in parallel.
Page 15 - Snap circuits: lamps in series and parallel
The photo on the left shows a circuit in series and the one on the right shows a circuit in parallel. Overall the lamps in the parallel circuit on the right shine brighter, this is because as a parallel circuit they share the same voltage, while in the series circuit on the right the voltage is going straight to the first lamp and then any energy that is not using is going straight to the second lamp which is why it is not very bright.
page 16 - snap circuits: sharing energy
The difference with and without the fan blades is that the motor with fan blades used up fewer volts and the lamp used up more volts, while the motor without fan blades used up more volts and the lamp barely had enough volts to light up, this is because there were more amps flowing through the circuit with the motor with the fan blades than in the one without the blades.
Page 17 - snap circuits
In the circuit on the left (Circuit B) a lamp is added. The lamp does not affect the motor; however, since the motor is first in the circuit it uses most of the volts in the circuit. In circuit B, the button can be used to bypass the lamp. When this happens the motor speeds up, because it is shutting off all power to the lamp.