Series vs. Parallel Circuits AKS 10b

Series vs. Parallel Circuits AKS 10B

By Marissa Brown

Most real circuits happen to be more complex than just open and closed circuits (simple circuits)

• the complex cicuits contain multiple power sources and multiple wire pathways.​

Circuits

Two types of Circuits

• ​There are two types of circuits:

• ​parallel: there are multiple pathways for electricity to travel

• ​series: there is only one pathway for electricity to travel

​Series Circuits

• ​In a series circuit, there is only one path for electricity to travel.

• ​If one part of the circuit stops working (the load, the wires, or the power source) the entire circuit stops working.

• circuits with only 1 path for electrons to travel (just like the simple circuits)

• these are used in devices such as:

  • flashlights

  • lamps

  • refrigerators​

Series Circuits

• Pros

  • each part of the circuit is wired one after the other (so it is very easy to set up) and this allows a constant current to be produced

    • the devices don't overheat easily

Series Circuit Pros/Cons

​

• Cons

  • when any part of a series circuit is disconnected, the current is not able to flow (it is an open circuit)

Series Circuit Pros/Cons

​

• electricity is cut off from ALL parts of the circuit

• dimming lights (resistance is increasing)

  • you need more batteries to keep the lights in series bright

​​

​Parallel Circuit

• ​In a parallel circuit, there is more than one pathway for electricity to flow.

• ​If one part of the parallel circuit stops working, the electricity will still flow.

• These circuits have multiple paths for electrons to travel (unlike the simple circuits)

• these are used in:

  • our homes

  • businesses

  • voltmeters

Parallel Circuits​

• Pros

  • the parts of the circuit are on separate branches

Parallel Circuit Pros/Cons

​

• breaks in the circuit (such as an unscrewed lightbulb or burned out light) will not stop the flow of electricity to the rest of the circuit

• the lightbulbs will have the same brightness with less batteries (because resistance is not decreasing)

  • more paths = less resistance​

• Cons

  • the current is not consistent

    • energy is used up quicker

    • the devices can overheat faster (causing fires because of hot wires)

Parallel Circuit Pros/Cons

​

Multiple Choice

What kind of circuit is this?

• series
• parallel

Multiple Choice

What kind of circuit is this?

• Series
• Consecutive
• Parallel
• Training

Multiple Choice

Does this diagram represent a series or parallel circuit?

• series circuit
• parallel circuit

Multiple Choice

When you remove a bulb from a three bulb circuit, and the other two bulbs go off, then the bulbs must have been connected in __________.

• parallel
• series
• open
• closed

Multiple Choice

The current has only has one loop to flow through in this circuit. 

• Series Circuit 
• Parallel Circuit 

Multiple Choice

What will happen if one light bulb is removed from this circuit?

• The other bulbs will go out.
• The other bulbs will stay on
• The other bulbs will get dimmer.
• The battery will become stronger.

Multiple Choice

The picture shows an electrical circuit. This circuit is a series circuit because: 

• It has 3 light bulbs.
• The same current flows through all three light bulbs.
• It uses a single battery.
• The electrical current is divided between the three light bulbs.

Multiple Choice

Pick the correct sentence.

• This circuit will work because it is a closed circuit.
• Energy will freely flow in this circuit.
• This circuit will not work because there is no energy source.
• This circuit will not work because there is no switch.

Multiple Choice

What is a Series Circuit?

• A circuit with more than one path way for current to flow

• A circuit with one path way with one switch.

• An electric circuit with a single path for current to flow.

• Two circuits with one path way for current to flow

Multiple Choice

What is a closed circuit?

• A pathway that allows one circuit to flow

• A pathway that does not allow an electric current to flow.

• A Parallel circuit.

• A pathway that allows an electric current to flow freely - light is on!

Multiple Choice

What is an open circuit?

• A parallel circuit

• A pathway that prevents electric current from flowing freely or stops the flow - light is off!

• A series circuit

• A pathway that allows electric current from flowing freely or stops the flow - light is off!

Multiple Choice

What is an Electric Current

• The pathway through which electric current (electron) flows.

• A Parallel Current

• A series current

Multiple Choice

What is a Conductor?

• A Parallel circuit

• A material that allows heat and electricity to flow through it

• The pathway through which electric current (electron) flows.

• A series current

Multiple Choice

What is an Insulator?

• A material that allows heat and electricity to flow through it

• The pathway through which electric current (electron) flows.

• A pathway that prevents electric current from flowing freely or stops the flow - light is off!

• A material that stops heat and electric current from flowing

Multiple Choice

What is an example of an Insulator?

• Copper wire

• Glass

• Rubber, styrofoam, cotton

• Water

Multiple Choice

What is an example of a Conductor?

• Rubber, styrofoam, cotton

• Wood

• Plastic

• Paperclip, penny, pencil lead

Multiple Choice

What is Voltage?

• The energy available to move charges through a circuit

• A material that allows heat and electricity to flow through it

• A material that stops heat and electric current from flowing

• Rubber, styrofoam, cotton

Multiple Choice

What is Current?

• Rubber, styrofoam, cotton

• The flow of electrons in a circuit

• A material that stops heat and electric current from flowing

• Paperclip, penny, pencil lead

Multiple Choice

What is a Battery?

• Rubber, styrofoam, cotton

• The energy available to move charges through a circuit

• The flow of electrons in a circuit

• The device that provides electrical energy

Multiple Choice

What is a Light Bulb in a circuit?

• The energy available to move charges through a circuit

• The device that provides electrical energy

• Rubber, styrofoam, cotton

• One of the parts of a circuit, when it is in a closed circuit it is lit

Multiple Choice

What is a wire in a circuit?

• One of the parts of a circuit that carries electrons from place to place

• The device that provides electrical energy

• The energy available to move charges through a circuit

• One of the parts of a circuit, when it is in a closed circuit it is lit

Multiple Choice

What is a Switch in a circuit?

• One of the parts of a circuit that carries electrons from place to place

• One of the parts of a circuit that carries electrons from place to place

• The device that provides electrical energy

• The device that opens and closes a circuit

Multiple Choice

What is Parallel Circuit?

• A wire that has a battery and a switch.

• A circuit that contains more than one path for current flow.

• A circuit that contians one path for current flow

• A circuit with a switch

Multiple Choice

Direct Current (DC) – Where electrons flow in the _________ direction in a wire and Alternating Current (AC) – electrons flow in _____________directions in a wire

• strong, weak

• different, same

• up, down

• same, different

Multiple Choice

The type of current where charges shake back and forth in a circuit

• Alternating Current
• Direct Current
• Voltage 
• Switchback Current

Multiple Choice

The type of current where charges flow in one direction

• Direct Current
• Alternating Current
• Electron Flow
• Voltage

Multiple Choice

AC stands for ___.

• Alternating Current
• Attraction Connections

Multiple Choice

Current that does NOT reverse direction is called ____. 

• magnetic current
• direct current
• circuit current
• alternating current

Multiple Choice

Current that reverses direction in a regular pattern is called ____. 

• direct current 
• circuit current
• magnetic current
• alternating current 

Multiple Choice

Which type of current comes from a battery?

• alternating current (AC)
• direct current (DC)