Series and Parallel Circuits

Two Important Terms

• Battery

- Energy source (produces electricity)

• Switch

- Device that controls whether or not electric current flows through a circuit

Different Types of Circuits

• Complete Circuit

- Current flows in a complete circle. Flows from battery, to bulb, back to battery

• Incomplete Circuit

- Path of electricity flow has been broken.

- Electricity stops and bulb will not light

Continued

• Closed Circuit - Complete circuit, but a

switch is used to close the circuit

- Current goes from battery, through the switch, through the lights and back to the battery

• Open Circuit - Switch is open so circuit is

incomplete = no light!

Draw a Circle

• On the circle, draw a battery

• On the opposite side, draw a bulb

• Which way is electricity flowing?

- From negative to positive

Series and Parallel Circuits

• Series Circuit

- Current travels along a single path to two or more electric devices (batteries, bulbs, switches)

• Parallel Circuit

- Current travels along two or more paths to different electric devices.

Series Circuits

• “When one goes, they all go!”

- ex: Flashlights, old Christmas lights

• All operate on the same current

- More lights->Bulbs get “dimmer”

- Series = All in one row ->Train

Parallel Circuits

• Current “splits”

- Has more than one way to go around

• Commonly used in homes

What We Have Learned Thus Far!!!

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2monVkCkX4&feature=fvw

A Few Questions…

• When an electric appliance is running, is the circuit that the appliance is part of open or closed?

• Why is it usually better to use a parallel circuit?

• When you flip a light switch on the wall, what does it do?