Series and Parallel Circuits

A circuit is the path of an electric current. In a series circuit, electric current flows in a single path. If you turn a light switch off, for instance, or if one light bulb along the pathway burns out, a break in the path occurs and the electric current stops flowing to both light bulbs. In a parallel circuit, electric current flows in more than one path. When a break occurs in one path, such as when one of the light bulbs burns out, the other light bulb stays lit because the electric current continues to flow to it.

Electric Light

One of the first important uses of electricity was artificial light. American inventor Thomas Edison created the first practical electric light bulb, shown here, in !"#.