Circuits and Symbols

Circuits and Symbols

By CHRISTY ROSS

Breaks in Circuits

Breaks in circuits = no flow of electricity!!

A break in a circuit is any spot where an insulator is in the way of electricity's flow.

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Paper, plastic or even an air gap can keep electricity from flowing.​

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Multiple Select

Which of the following will prevent electricity from flowing in a circuit?

• air

• paper

• plastic

• copper wire

​Closed Circuits - has no breaks and the light lights up!​

​Open circuits - has a break in it and he light will not light up.

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Electricity flows through circuits​!!

Electric Circuits - are paths of conductors (usually wires) that electricity flows through.​

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Multiple Choice

Electricity is a path of conductors usually made up of

• wires

• plastic

• insulators

• paper

​Circuit Symbols and their Water Equivalents

Helpful Info:​

Electricity works a lot like water. Often imagining how water would work in a circuit will tell you how electricity will work as well.

​We use circuit symbols to draw circuit diagrms. Circuit diagrams are a short-cut method of drawing circuits

Multiple Choice

What is the water equivalent of a switch in an electrical circuit?

• pipe

• pump

• valve

• resistor

Multiple Choice

What is the electrical equivalent to the pipes of a water circuit?

• wire

• battery

• switch

• resisitor

Multiple Choice

What is the water equivalent of a pump in an electrical circuit?

• battery

• resistor

• pipes

• switch

Multiple Choice

A resistor is equivalent to a ___________________ in a water circuit.

• there is no equivalent

• a restriction in the pipe

• a pump

• a pipe

3 Quantities of a Circuit:

Voltage - (volts) pushes electrons ​

​Current - (amps) is the flow of electrons through closed circuits

These quantities are linked in any circuit. Change one of them and one or both of the others will change!!​

Resistance - (ohms) resists current flow. Devices in a circuit (resistors) do work, which slows down current

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is measured in amps?

• electricity

• voltage

• current

• resistance

Multiple Choice

Which of the following slows down current?

• voltage

• amps

• resistors

• volts

Current

• Current is moving electrons or moving charge.

• Increasing current causes MORE electricity to move through a device.

• So, more current causes​ a device to work faster (motor) or be brighter (lightbulb).

Subject | Subject

MORE CURRENT = BRIGHTER LIGHT​

Multiple Choice

If you increase current in a circuit, will your light be

• less bright

• brighter

• turned off

• burnt out

Voltage

• Voltage is electrical potential (potential energy) or how much work a battery can do!

• 1 Volt = 1 joule of energy per coulomb of charge

• To increase voltage, you could use stronger batteries or add batteries (like we did with the electromagnet!).

Subject | Subject

MORE VOLTAGE IS LIKE A STRONGER PUMP GIVING MORE FORCE​

Multiple Choice

How do you increase voltage in a circuit?

• take batteries out of a circuit

• increase resistance

• add more batteries

• increase current

Resistance

• Resistance slows down current (sort of like a dam holding back water!

• Adding devices (like lightbulbs) in a circuit increases resistance.

Subject | Subject

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MORE RESISTANCE = LESS CURRENT

LESS CURRENT = LESS LIGHT​

Multiple Choice

If you have a series circuit and you add another lightbulb, thereby increasing the resistance, would your lightbulbs be

• on

• off

• brighter

• less bright

• ​Series Circuits only have one path for electricity to flow.

• If any part of a series circuit is broken, the circuit fails

• If either lightbulb is unscrewed, both lights will turn off.

Series Circuits:​

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• ​Parallel circuits have multiple paths for the electricty to flow.

• Brances or paths of parallel circuits are independent.

• If either bult is unscre​wed, the other will remain on.

Parallel Circuits​:

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​Think!! How would it work if you unscrewed a light bulb in your bathroom and all of the electricity and all other lights went off in your house - it wouldn't!! That is why electricians use parallel circuits!

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Your house is wired in parallel - so that each light and appliance can be turned off an on independently!​

Multiple Choice

The wiring in your home is wired in ______________ circuits.

• series

• parallel

• multiple

• individual

Multiple Choice

What type of circuit only has one path for electricity to flow?

• series

• parallel

• multiple

• individual

Multiple Choice

What type of circuit has multiple paths for electricity to flow?

• series

• parallel

• multiple

• individual

Multiple Choice

If you unscrewed a light bulb and all of the other lights went off in the circuit, what kind of circuit is it?

• series

• parallel

• multiple

• individual

Multiple Choice

If you have a circuit with three light bulbs and you unscrew one, but all of the others stay lit, what kind of circuit is it?

• series

• parallel

• multiple

• individual