Day 2: Parts of a Circuit

Simple Circuits  An electric circuit is the path that an electric current follows  Current is flowing charges, like cars on a highway – THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM STATIC ELECTRICITY!!!

Circuit Diagrams BatterySwitch Light bulb Wire

All electric circuits have three parts:  Source of electric energy (battery or wall outlet)  Wires  Device that uses the energy (light bulb, stereo, etc.)

+ Circuits flow in a circular path from positive to negative

Open or Closed?  In order for electricity to move through a circuit it must be closed  If a circuit is open then the electricity cannot flow  Switches are objects that are used to determine whether a circuit will be closed or opened m=Circuit_Construction_Kit_DC_Only m=Circuit_Construction_Kit_DC_Onlyopen

There are two types of circuits…  Series  Parallel

Types of Circuits What is the difference between the wiring?

Series Circuits  This is the simplest type of circuit

Series Circuits  The electric charges can follow only one path through the wires of the circuit  If one part goes out, they all go out. Ex. – Old-style Christmas lights are wired this way

Series Circuits + If this light bulb does not turn on, neither light bulb will turn on. The circuit is broken and the current can’t flow to this bulb here. Burned out light bulb

Parallel Circuits  The electric current can follow more than one path (branch)

Parallel Circuits + The current divides because it has more than one path to flow. Even though the path is stopped, the other light turns on because its circuit is not broken. Burned out light bulb

Parallel Continued  So would series or parallel be better to wire a house?  Parallel because if one light is missing or not working, the other lights have alternate paths to follow and will STAY LIT!

Building Circuits  Materials:  Wire  Cell  Bulbs  switch  Build a series circuit with a switch to control the light bulb  Build a parallel circuit with 2 light bulbs and a switch that controls one light bulb only