Electrical Circuit

In order for electricity to flow through a circuit, the circuit must be a closed, complete:

• Path, so that the electricity can make a complete circle.

• Donut, because circuits get hungry.

• Wire, made out of rubber.

• Solar panel, because circuits only work with the sun.

The circuit on the left is not complete (the light is off) because:

• the switch is closed

• the switch is open

• the battery is missing

• the battery is in backwards

The circuit on the right is complete (the light is on) because:

• the switch is closed

• the switch is open

• the battery is hot

• the battery is red

How many light bulbs would be ON with this complete circuit?

• 1

• 3

• 2

• 4

Since there are multiple pathways the current can take from the positive side of the battery to the negative side, in a ​ (a)   circuit, the ​ (b)   is divided up among the pathways, but the potential, or voltage, is the same for each pathway. ​In ​ (c)   circuits with only one pathway for the current, the ​ (d)   , or voltage, is divided up among the different elements.

• parallel

• current

• series

• potential

Since there are multiple pathways the current can take from the positive side of the battery to the negative side, in a ​ (a)   circuit, the ​ (b)   is divided up among the pathways, but the potential is the same for each pathway. ​In ​ (c)   circuits with only one pathway for the current, the ​ (d)   is divided up among the different elements.

• parallel

• current

• series

• potential

What type of circuit is pictured?

• series

• Parallel

In a _________ circuit, each component has its own path for the current to flow.

• parallel

• series

What type of circuit is represented by the diagram?

• closed

• series

• open

• parallel

This image represents what type of circuit?

• open

• closed

• series

• parallel