A circuit is a system in which electricity flows from an energy source to a component in a complete path. For instance, a batter connected to a wire to a lightbulb and back to the battery is a circuit. There are two types of circuits we discussed in class. A series circuit and a parallel circuit. A series circuit has only one pathway connected to the energy source. If there is any break in the circuit, the component will not work. For instance, in the picture to the left, the switch is actually open, so no electricity is flowing to the lightbulb. The picture incorrectly has the light working. For the light to actually work, the switch would need to be closed or in the down position. This would allow the electricity to flow all the way through the circuit. In a parallel circuit, each component has a direct pathway to the energy source. So if one component does not work, the other will continue to work. A complete circuit or closed circuit is one in which everything is connected. An incomplete or open circuit is one in which something is disconnected and the electricity cannot flow through it. Electricity ALWAYS FLOWS FROM THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF THE BATTERY TO THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THE BATTERY. |
Series circuitAll the components are connected together to the energy source. If one component does not work, all the components will not work. There is only one pathway to the energy source.
|
Parallel CircuitParallel circuits are circuits in which each component is connected to the energy source. In this picture, a light, a solenoid, and a motor are all directly connected to the battery. If the light burns out, the motor will continue to work
|