Exploring Series & Parallel Circuits

1. Exploring Series & Parallel Circuits

2. Bulbs in Series & Parallel Now, look at the pictures below. Question: Which will burn brighter? Which will burn longer? Why? Bulbs in Series Bulbs in Parallel

3. Bulbs in Series & Parallel

4. Batteries in Series & Parallel Look at the pictures below of two different circuit diagrams. What’s the difference? Question: Which bulb do you think will burn brighter? Which bulb do you think will burn longer? Why? Batteries in Series Batteries in Parallel

5. Batteries in Series & Parallel

7. What are electric circuits? Circuits typically contain a voltage source, a wire conductor, and one or more devices which use the electrical energy. What is a series circuit? A series circuit is one which provides a single pathway for the current to flow. If the circuit breaks, all devices using the circuit will fail.

8. In a series circuit, electricity passes from one bulb to the next giving a small amount energy to each bulb. This results in the light bulbs glowing brightly as long as every light bulb in the series is working. If one of the bulbs burns out or is removed from the socket, the circuit is broken and the electricity stops flowing.

10. What is a parallelcircuit? A parallel circuit has multiple pathways for the current to flow. If the circuit is broken the current may pass through other pathways and other devices will continue to work.

11. Question: What is a parallel circuit? Answer:A parallel circuit has branched paths through which electricity passes. Aparallel circuit is made of 2 or more connecting circles. In a parallel circuit, if one light bulb burns out or is removed, the circuit is not broken. This is because the electricity can bypass the socket without a bulb or with a burned out bulb. This is the type of circuit that is using in buildings, such as your home.