BUILDING CIRCUITS:Schematics

S1-3-13 Construct electric circuits using schematics diagrams.

S1-3-15 Compare and contrast voltage and current in series and parallel circuits.

KEY WORDSCircuit Schematic Battery Switch Series Parallel

The flow of electrons through an unbroken conducting loop is called a circuit

Basic Circuit must have:•Source•Conducting loop (wire)•Load

The load could be any appliance that makes use of

the energy or a resistor

Cell Switch (open)

Battery Switch (closed)

Wire Voltmeter

Resistor Ammeter

Load Motor

Schematic: a representation of the components of a system (circuit) drawn using symbols.

● ●

● ●+-

-+

● ●

+

-

e-

e-For the source:Long stroke = (+) electrodeShort stroke = (-) electrode

Including the (+) and (-) isn’t necessary on the cell/battery but the direction the charges travel in the circuit must be known

Battery: multiple cells connected in a row (series)

● ●

+-

● ●

e-

Closed circuit (on) Open circuit (off)

Circuits can be opened or closed by a switch:

● ●

e-

• Voltmeter placed across component – measure drop• Ammeter placed in the circuit – count coulombs

● ●

Series circuit: only one path for the current

In series the electrons pass through every component of

the circuit

● ●

Since the electrons pass through both cells the

potential (voltage) is the sum of the cells in series

Series circuit: one path

Current is the same at any point

Current travels through all components:

Sum of drop by all components equals

total voltage supplied by source

Voltage drop is unique to each component:

Parallel circuit: multiple pathways for current

Notice there can be multiple ideas present in one circuit:

Here the cells are in series but the resistors are in parallel

Where the wire splits or meets

up again is called a junction

● ●

Drop in each branch same as total voltage

supplied by the source

Voltage drop is same across all components:

Sum of all branches equals total current

at the junction

Current flow is unique to each component:

Parallel circuit: multiple pathways

SERIES PARALLELOne path Multiple paths

Removing a component kills circuit

Current flows in other branches if one is broken

Total voltage is sum ALL cells Voltage is the same as single cell (but it lasts longer)

Sum of voltage drop by ALL components equals the total voltage supplied by source

Voltage drop in EACH branch equals the total voltage supplied by the source

Total current is the same at any point

Total current before or after the junction is the sum of current in all branches

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS?

S1-3-13: What is a schematic and how are they used as information for a circuit?

S1-3-15:What are the similarities and differences between series and parallel circuits?

KEY WORDSCircuit Schematic Battery Switch Series Parallel