Series circuitsand

Parallel circuits

A simple circuit has one appliance (resistor) and only one path for the current to flow.

But if there is more than one appliance there are two different ways to circuit them.

If there is only one path for the

current you have a series circuit.

With a series circuit, if one appliance is removed the circuit is opened by a gap. The other appliance goes off because current can’t flow to it.

A gap opens the circuit and stops the flow of current

Light is off

You can have more than two lights on

the same path in a series circuit. But if any light goes off, they all will.

Any gap opens the circuit and stops the flow of current

All lights are off. No current can flow through the circuit because of a burned out bulb.

Series circuitAn electric circuit with only one path for the current

(If one light goes out they all go out)

But we could make a circuit with more than one path for the current.

Then if one light is gone the other can stay on.

Then if one light is gone the other can stay on.

Then if one light is gone the other can stay on.

This is called a

parallel circuit.

“Parallel” mean two lines that run side by side. It might be easier to see a parallel circuit if the wires are really parallel.

Parallel circuitAn electric circuit with more than one path for the current

(If one light goes out the others stay on)

Series circuit

Parallel circuit

Review:

What is the name for a circuit that has only one path for current to flow?

Review:

What is the name for a circuit that has only one path for current to flow?

Series circuit

Review:

What happens to the lights in a series circuit if one light goes off?

Review:

What happens to the lights in a series circuit if one light goes off?

All the lights go off.

Broken filament

Review:

Why do all the lights go off when one light fails in a series circuit?

Review:

What kind of circuit has more than one path for the current?

Review:

What kind of circuit has more than one path for the current?

Parallel circuit

Review:

What happens when one light goes out in a parallel circuit?

Review:

Why do all the lights go off when one light fails in a series circuit?

No current can flow because of the gap. There is no other path for the current.

gap

Review:

What happens when one light goes out in a parallel circuit?

The other lights can stay on.

Review:

Why do the other lights stay on in a parallel circuit?

Review:

Why do the other lights stay on in a parallel circuit?

Because the current can still flow. It has other paths.