Circuits 1

Circuits
Reviewing terms
Series and Parallel Circuits
Key Question:
How do series and parallel circuits work?
 In
series circuits, current can only take
one path.
 Theamount of current is the same at all
points in a series circuit.
Adding resistances in series
 Each resistance in a series

circuit adds to the total
resistance of the circuit.
Rtotal = R1 + R2 + R3...
Total resistance
(ohms)
Individual resistances ()
Total resistance in a series circuit
 Light bulbs, resistors, motors, and heaters usually have

much greater resistance than wires and batteries.
Voltage
 Voltage is the rate at which

energy is drawn from a source
that produces a flow of electricity
in a circuit; expressed in volts
Voltage in a series circuit
 Each separate resistance
creates a voltage drop as
the current passes through.
 As current flows along a
series circuit, each type of
resistor transforms some of
the electrical energy into
another form of energy
 Inparallel circuits the current can take more
than one path.
 Because there are multiple branches, the
current is not the same at all points in a parallel
circuit.
 When analyzing a parallel circuit,

remember that the current always has
to go somewhere.
Voltage and current in a parallel circuit
 In a parallel circuit the voltage is the

same across each branch because each
branch has a low resistance path back
to the battery.
 The amount of current in each branch in
a parallel circuit is not necessarily the
same.
 The resistance in each branch
determines the current in that branch.
Advantages of parallel circuits
Parallel circuits have two big

advantages over series circuits:
1. Each device in the circuit sees the
full battery voltage.
2. Each device in the circuit may be
turned off independently without
stopping the current flowing to other
devices in the circuit.
Short circuit
 A short circuit is a parallel path in a circuit with zero or
very low resistance.
 Short circuits can be made accidentally by connecting a
wire between two other wires at different voltages.
 Short circuits are dangerous because they can draw huge
amounts of current.
Resistance in parallel circuits
 Adding resistance in parallel provides

another path for current, and more
current flows.
 When more current flows for the same
voltage, the total resistance of the
circuit decreases.
 This happens because every new path
in a parallel circuit allows more current
to flow for the same voltage.
Electric Power, AC, and DC
Electricity
Key Question:
How much does
electricity cost
and what do you
pay for?
Electric Power, AC, and DC
Electricity
 The watt (W) is a unit of power.
 Power is the rate at which energy moves
or is used.
 Since energy is measured in joules,
power is measured in joules per second.
 One joule per second is equal to one watt.
Power in electric circuits
 One watt is a pretty small amount of power.
 In everyday use, larger units are more
convenient to use.
 A kilowatt (kW) is equal to 1,000 watts.
 The other common unit of power often seen
on electric motors is the horsepower.
 One horsepower is 746 watts.
Paying for electricity
 Electric companies charge for
the number of kilowatt-hours
used during a set period of time,
often a month.
 One kilowatt-hour (kWh) means
that a kilowatt of power has
been used for one hour.
 Since power multiplied by time
is energy, a kilowatt-hour is a
unit of energy.
Alternating and direct current
 DC—Direct Current—
produced by solar
cells and chemical
cells (batteries)
 Current only flows in
one direction.
 One end of the
battery is positive and
the other end is
negative.
Alternating and direct current
 AC—Alternating
Current
 Current flows back
and forth
(alternates)
 Found in homes
 Generators
produce AC current
Application: Wiring in Homes and
Buildings
Application: Wiring in Homes and
Buildings
Toll Road—Circuit Analogy
Toll Booth Explanation
 Adding toll booths in series
increases resistance and slows
the current flow.
 Adding toll booths in parallel
lowers resistance and
increases the current flow.
Batteries in Series & Parallel:

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Circuits

 Each resistance in a series

 Light bulbs, resistors, motors, and heaters usually have

 Voltage is the rate at which

 When analyzing a parallel circuit,

 In a parallel circuit the voltage is the

Parallel circuits have two big

 Adding resistance in parallel provides

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