1. Open
Parallel
Closed
Series
Short
My Book of
Circuits

2. Switch: used to open & close the circuit.
(on the back of cover)
Parts of a circuit:
Switch: used to open & close the circuit. 3.
Electrical Device: any part of the circuit that changes electrical energy into another form of energy. A resistor is an ED that slows the flow of charge in a circuit.
Voltage source: supplies electrical energy to the circuit, usually a battery 1. 4.
Conductor: provides a path through which a charge flows. 2.

3. Open
Open circuit = “turned off;” The switch is open causing a gap between the two pieces of conducting material, preventing or not allowing the electrical charges from traveling through the circuit.

4. Closed
Closed circuit = “turned on;” The switch is closed, causing the 2 pieces of conducting material to touch, allowing the electrical charges to flow through the circuit

5. Advantages of Series Circuit Disadvantages of Series Circuit
(on the back of closed)
Advantages of Series Circuit
Disadvantages of Series Circuit
Uses a small amount of wire
A break or opening in one part of the circuit stops the current everywhere in the circuit
Allows voltage to be added together
The more elements on a circuit, the less current available to each.

6. Series
A series circuit is a circuit in which all parts are connected in a single loop. Charge must flow through each part & can only follow one path.
If one light bulb burns out, the circuit will be broken & the other bulbs will be darken, too.
The more light bulbs that are added, the less current there is available & the dimmer all the bulbs become.
The more batteries you add, the more volts available.
Uses: automatic doors at grocery stores, flashlights

7. Advantages of Parallel Circuit Disadvantages of Parallel Circuit
(on the back of series)
Advantages of Parallel Circuit
Disadvantages of Parallel Circuit
A break or opening in one part of the circuit doesn’t cause the others to stop working
Uses more wire
Even with added bulbs, the bulbs burn at their brightest
Voltage isn’t increased as batteries are added

8. Parallel
A parallel circuit is a circuit in which different devices are located on separate branches. The charge travels through more than one path.
If one bulb burns out, the others will continue to glow.
Because each bulb added to a parallel circuit has its own branch to the voltage source, the bulbs burn at their brightest.
Adding batteries doesn’t increase voltage, but allows batteries to last longer.
Uses: wiring in a house or kitchen

9. Short
A short circuit occurs when charges bypass the devices in the circuit. When the devices are bypassed, the resistance of the circuit drops & the current increases. If the current increases too much, it can produce enough thermal energy to start a fire.
Ex: plastic insulator on a cord is broken, causing 2 wires on the inside to touch. Charges bypass the device & travel from one wire to the other.

10. Symbols: Speaker Light Bulb Battery Lamp Open Switch Resistor Closed
Wire
Fan
Battery
Open
Switch
Closed