Download Electrical Circuits

Electrical Circuits
Parts of a simple circuit:
1. Wire
2. Load
3. Power Source--- _________________
4. Switch
Power source: AC or DC
Alternating Current– flow of electric
charge that regularly reverses its
direction.
• generated from outlets
Direct Current– charge flows in one
direction.
• generated from __________________
Open Circuit vs. Closed Circuit
• When switch is open, there is no voltage
difference and NO CURRENT WILL
FLOW.
• A circuit must have a complete path from
positive to __________________
electrodes for current to flow.
• Light switch: when it is ON, it has a(n)
__________ circuit, when it is OFF, it has
a(n) ________________ circuit.
Types of Circuits
1. Series Circuit
•
The parts are wired
one after another
• Example: old
christmas tree lights
• If one light goes out
All go out
• One load effects the
current in the loads
after it. (example–
lights will get dimmer
one after another)
Types of Circuit
2. Parallel Circuit
•
•
•
•
the electricity has more
than one path it can travel.
Examples: used in cars,
houses, most everything
If one light bulb (or load)
goes out, the rest stay on
All light bulbs stay equally
light because each has its
own pathway
Circuit Safety Features
•
Electrical energy enters your home at the
circuit breaker or fuse box and branches
out to wall sockets, major appliances and
lights.
1. Electric fuse- A safety device that detects
too much current in a circuit. A fuse often
has a component that melts and opens the
circuit.
Found in
Cars, boats and
Big appliances
Circuit Safety Features
2. Circuit Breakers
• A safety device that detects too much
current in a circuit.
• A circuit breaker often contains a
bimetallic strip that bends and trips a
switch that opens a circuit.
Found in
Houses