Electric Current/Circuits

Which of the following is the best description of a schematic diagram?

• A blueprint of the circuit design with images representing different components of the circuit

• Uses pictures to represent the list of parts of a circuit

• Determines the location of the circuit in a home

• Shows some of the parts that make up a circuit

The image to the right shows:

• A short circuit

• A closed circuit

• An open circuit

• A broken circuit

An electrician is wiring components in an outlet for a customer. He mistakenly creates a circuit that is not well insulated or connected to any loads. A week later, the wall near the outlet caught fire. What was most likely the cause?

• Lightning

• Too much resistance in the circuit

• The electrician created an open circuit

• The electrician created a short circuit

How does the potential difference across the bulb in a flashlight compare with the terminal voltage of the batteries used to power the flashlight?

• The potential difference across the bulb is greater than the terminal voltage of the batteries

• The potential difference across the bulb is less than the terminal voltage of the batteries

• It cannot be determined what the potential difference is

• The potential difference will be the same as the terminal voltage of the batteries

The symbols in the diagram to the right indicate:

• One battery, three resistors, and one closed switch

• One battery, three bulbs, and one open switch

• One capacitor, three resistors, and one closed switch

• Three batteries, one open switch, and one resistor

Several resistors are wired in a circuit so that there is a single path for the flow of electric current. What type of circuit is this?

• Electronic circuit

• Series circuit

• Parallel circuit

• Short circuit

Five resistors are wired in a series circuit. How does the equivalent resistance of the circuit compare to the resistance of the individual resistors?

• The equivalent resistance is greater than any single resistance

• The equivalent resistance is less than any single resistance

• The equivalent resistance is the same as any single resistance

• The equivalent resistance in one-fifth the value of any single resistance

The current through one resistor in a parallel circuit is always

• Less than the total amount of current in the circuit

• The same amount of current as the total current

• More than the total current in the circuit

• The same amount of current in any of the other resistors in the circuit

Three resistors with values of 3.0, 6.0, and 12.0 ohms are combined in parallel. What is the equivalent resistance of this circuit?

• 0.26

• 1.7

• 9.0

• 21

Three resistors with values of 3.0, 6.0, and 12.0 ohms are combined in series. What is the equivalent resistance of this circuit?

• 0.26

• 1.7

• 9.0

• 21