Circuit Components
Series Circuits
Parallel Circuits
Series or Parallel?
Mixed Bag
100
This is the name for a path through which electrons . can flow.
Circuit
100
How many paths does a series circuit allow current to flow through?
One
100
In a parallel circuit, why does placement of switch matter?
Because it will either not let the entire circuit function or not let parts of the circuit function.
100
The circuit has loops/paths stacked on top of one another.
Parallel
100
the “push” (pressure) that gets electric charges to move; electrical potential difference
Voltage.
200
Without this component, no charges will flow in a circuit.
Battery
200
In a series circuit, what can you say about the current passing through each resistor?
It is the same.
200
Just by looking, how can you tell that a circuit is a parallel circuit/what is the defining feature of a parallel circuit?
There are multiple branches/paths/loops through which current can flow.
200
In this type of circuit, every lightbulb you add causes the others to grow dimmer.
Series.
200
Explain why light bulbs in a series circuit get dimmer the more light bulbs you have but brighter the less light bulbs you have.
Voltage, or energy, is shared among all the light bulbs in a series circuit. A light bulb is like a resistor which makes charges lose their energy.
300
Energy is lost when charge flows through this component.
Resistor
300
In a series circuit consisting of a 9 V battery and three resistors of equal resistance, what is the voltage drop over each one?
3 V
300
True or False:
Electricity is either going to travel all the way through a path or not at all.
True
300
When you open the switch in this circuit, at least one part of the circuit can still function.
Parallel
300
Describe how you could make a short circuit happen.
Connect the wire from the negative end of the battery to the positive end (no light bulbs or resistors).
Have a switch in a circuit with no light bulbs.
400
This component allows a person to switch the circuit between a circuit where no current can flow and a complete circuit.
A switch
400
Is it possible to cut a series circuit somewhere and have current still flow?
No
400
Is it possible to cut a parallel circuit somewhere and still have bulbs lit? Explain.
Yes. As long as there exists at least one branch for current to flow through, any bulbs in that branch will be lit even if other branches are cut.
400
If I place an open switch near the battery, it will affect the entire circuit. If there is a gap at one part of the circuit, other parts of the circuit may still work.
Parallel
400
How do electrons move in this circuit?
Electrons move from the negative end of the battery, into the switch, lighting up the bulb on the left, then the bulb on the right, and then makes their way back into the positive end of the battery.
500
This component breaks the circuit if a certain amount of current passes through it.
Hint: If you plug in too many appliances at home, your lights might go out because you "blew a ___."
Fuse
500
Three lightbulbs are connected in a series circuit. If one is removed (no gap), what will happen to the brightness of the other bulbs?
Why?
The brightness of the other bulbs will increase.
Originally, the voltage was split over the three bulbs. If one is removed, there will now be a larger voltage drop over each of the remaining two. Hence, brighter bulbs.
500
Three bulbs are each in their own branch in a parallel circuit. If a fourth bulb is added in its own branch, what will happen to the brightness of the others? Why?
Nothing. The voltage division over each of the other branches will remain the same.
500
Suppose I set up an elaborate display of lights on my front lawn. Unfortunately, the middle bulb dies, and the entire display goes out/stops working. Was my display wired in series or parallel? How do you know?
It was wired in series. In series, if one bulb goes out, it blocks all current through the circuit since there is only one path for the current to take.
In a parallel circuit, one bulb going out would leave the others unaffected, as each is on its own branch.
500
Where does charge come from? What has charge and how can things be positively charged and negatively charged?
Everything has charge. There are things which are more conductive, meaning can allow charge to move more easily in them, and there are things that restrict this movement of charge. Objects can be positively charged if they lose electrons. Objects can also be negatively charged if they gain electrons.