Circuit Basics⚡️
What is a circuit?
A complete pathway that allows electricity to flow.
What is a closed circuit?
A complete circuit where electricity can flow.
What is a conductor?
A material that allows electricity to flow through it.
How many pathways for electricity does a series circuit have?
One
What provides the energy in a simple circuit?
A battery, D-cell.
What is an open circuit?
A circuit with a break where electricity cannot flow.
What is an insulator?
A material that does not allow electricity to flow through it.
How many pathways does a parallel circuit have?
More than one.
If a circuit has a battery and a bulb, but no wire connecting them, will it work?
No, because there is no complete pathway.
If you open a switch, is the circuit open or closed?
Open
Is copper a conductor or an insulator?
Conductor
What happens to the other bulbs in a series circuit if one bulb is removed?
They all go out because the single pathway is broken.
A bulb is connected to a battery and two wires, but it doesn't light. Give one possible reason.
A loose connection, broken wire, dead battery, defective bulb.
Why can a switch be useful in a circuit?
It allows us to control the flow of electricity.
Is rubber a conductor or an insulator?
Insulator
Why can one bulb stay lit in a parallel circuit when another bulb goes out?
The bulbs have separate pathways, so electricity can still flow through the other pathway.
Explain how the battery, wires, and bulb work together.
The battery provides energy, the wires provide a pathway, and the bulb uses the energy to produce light and heat.
If a wire becomes disconnected from the battery, what happens to the circuit?
It becomes open, and the bulb will not light.
Why are wires usually made with metal inside and rubber around the outside?
Metal conducts electricity, while rubber insulates and helps protect people from the electricity.
What is one major difference between series and parallel circuits?
A series circuit has one pathway for electricity, while a parallel circuit has multiple pathways.