Electric Circuits1/24/11

Electric Circuit

Electric Circuit is a closed path that electric current follows.

Electric current is a flow of electric charges.

What kind of charges

flow?

Series circuit

A series circuit has only one path for its current to follow.

An example of a series circuit would be Christmas tree lights. The lights will go out if a bulb is removed.

What happens if I remove a light from a series circuit?

Parallel Circuits Parallel Circuits has

more than one path for the current to follow.

A parallel circuit allows for many devices to be turned on and off at different times.

Where do we use a parallel circuit?

What would happen if I took out a light bulb?

Resistance

Resistance is how much a material

opposes the flow of current.

Thin wire has a greater resistance than

thick wire.

Short circuit

A short circuit is where current flows

where it isn’t wanted.

What would happen if the plastic around a

plug came off?

1. What kind of charges flow

through a circuit?

3. What kind of circuit is pictured

below?

2. Which kind of circuit would be

best to use in a home?A. Series circuit

B. Parallel circuit

4. What kind of circuit do we see

most often with Christmas tree

lights?

A. Series Circuit

B. Parallel Circuit

5. Please draw a series circuit if you

were given a battery, light bulb, and

wires.