Series circuits In a television series, you get several
episodes, one after the other. A series circuit is similar. You
get several components one after the other. If you follow the
circuit diagram from one side of the cell to the other, you
should pass through all the different components, one after
the other, without any branches.
If you put more lamps into a
series circuit, the lamps will be
dimmer than before. In a series
circuit, if a lamp breaks or a
component is disconnected, the
circuit is broken and all the
components stop working.
REMEMBERED FACTS: 1. a series circuit is a long line
of circuit that is not branched off. 2. if a bulb is added to
the circuit it dims the other bulbs. 3. If one bulb breaks the
circuit will not work.
Parallel circuits In parallel circuits different components
are connected on different branches of the wire. If you
follow the circuit diagram from one side of the cell to the
other, you can only pass through all the different
components if you follow all the branches.
In a parallel circuit, if a lamp breaks or a
component is disconnected from one
parallel wire, the components on different
branches keep working. And, unlike a
series circuit, the lamps stay bright if you
add more lamps in parallel.
REMEMBERED FACTS: 1. parallel circuits are connected in different
sections in parallel. 2. If one bulb breaks the others will still work. 3. If
more bulbs are added it won't affect the other bulbs.
Current is a measure of how much electric charge flows through a circuit. The
more charge that flows, the bigger the current. Current is measured in units called amps.
The symbol for amps is A. For example, 20A is a bigger current than 5A.
A device called an ammeter is used to measure current. Some types of ammeter have a
pointer on a dial, but most have a digital readout. To measure the current flowing
through a component in a circuit, you must connect the ammeter in series with it.
REMEMEBERED FACTS: the current is about
the power of the circuit, it is measured in amps.
the more amps in a circuit, the more powerful
the circuit will be. Amps are measured on an
amneter. the letter for amps is A. MUST BE CONNECTED IN SERIES ONLY.
BATTERY
BULB
BULB
BULB
BULB
A PARALLEL CIRCUIT
BULB
BULB
BULB
BATTERY
A SERIES CIRCUIT
Voltage is a measure of the difference in electrical energy between two parts of a circuit. The bigger the
difference in energy, the bigger the voltage. Voltage is measured in volts. The symbol for volts is V. For
example, 230V is a bigger voltage than 12V.
Voltage is meaured using a voltmeter. Some types of voltmeter have a pointer on a dial, but most have a
digital readout. To measure the voltage across a component in a circuit, you must connect the voltmeter in
parallel with it.
REMEMBERED FACTS: voltage is the difference in volts between two different parts of a parallel circuit. it is measured
with a voltmeter. CAN ONLY BE MEASURED ON A PARALLEL CIRCUIT.