Chapter 22/23 Vocabulary

A type of electric circuit in which there is only one current path and all current travels through each device; the current is the same everywhere and is equal to the potential difference divided by the equivalent resistance.

• Parallel circuit

• Series circuit

• Voltage circuit

• Sequential circuit

A type of electric circuit in which there are several current paths; its total current is equal to the sum of the currents in the individual branches, and if any branch is opened, the current in the other branches remains unchanged.

• Series circuit

• Parallel circuit

• Branched circuit

• Combination circuit

Occurs when a very low resistance is formed, causing a very large current that could easily start a fire from overheated wires.

• Closed circuit

• Short Circuit

• Voltage potential

• Semiconducting circuit

A short piece of metal that acts as a safety device by melting and stopping the current when too large a current passes through it.

• Fuse

• Short circuit

• Breaker

• Current switch

An automatic switch that opens when the current through an electric circuit exceeds a threshold value.

• Fuse

• Circuit breaker

• Circuit potentiometer

• Safety breaker

A device that contains an electronic circuit that detects small current differences caused by an extra current path; it opens the circuit, prevents electrocution, and often is required as a safety measure for bathroom, kitchen, and exterior outlets.

• Fuse

• Circuit breaker

• Ground-fault interrupter

• Circuit switch

A complex electric circuit that includes both series and parallel branches.

• Series circuit

• parallel circuit

• Combined circuit

• combination series-parallel circuit

A series circuit that is used to produce a potential difference source of desired magnitude from a battery with a higher potential difference; often used with sensors such as photoresistors.

• Voltage regulator

• Voltage divider

• Transformer

• Voltage potential meter

A flow of charged particles.

• Electric current

• Conventional current

• Series circuit

• Parallel circuit

The direction in which a positive test charge moves

• Electric current

• Conventional current

• Current path

• Circuit