Series circuits

and

Parallel circuits
A simple circuit has one
appliance (resistor) and only one
path for the current to flow.
But if there is more than one
appliance there are two different
ways to circuit them.
If there is only one path for the
current you have a series
circuit.
With a series circuit, if one
appliance is removed the circuit is
opened by a gap. The other
appliance goes off because
current can’t flow to it.
A gap opens
Light the circuit and
is off stops the flow
of current
You can have more than two lights on
the same path in a series circuit.
But if any light goes off, they all will.
All lights are off. No current can
flow through the circuit because
of a burned out bulb.

Any gap opens the

circuit and stops the
flow of current
Series circuit
An electric circuit with only one
path for the current
(If one light goes out they all go out)
But we could make a circuit with
more than one path for the current.
Then if one light is gone the other
can stay on.
Then if one light is gone the other
can stay on.
Then if one light is gone the other
can stay on.

This is called a

parallel circuit.
“Parallel” mean two lines that run side by
side. It might be easier to see a parallel
circuit if the wires are really parallel.
Parallel circuit
An electric circuit with more than
one path for the current
(If one light goes out the others stay on)
Series Parallel
circuit circuit
Review:

What is the name for a circuit

that has only one path for
current to flow?
Review:

What is the name for a circuit

that has only one path for
current to flow?

Series circuit
Review:

What happens to the lights in a

series circuit if one light goes off?
Review:

What happens to the lights in a

series circuit if one light goes off?

All the lights go off.

Broken filament
Review:

Why do all the lights go off when

one light fails in a series circuit?
Review:

What kind of circuit has more than

one path for the current?
Review:

What kind of circuit has more than

one path for the current?

Parallel circuit
Review:

What happens when one light

goes out in a parallel circuit?
Review:

Why do all the lights go off when

one light fails in a series circuit?
No current can
flow because of
gap
the gap. There
is no other
path for the
current.
Review:

What happens when one light

goes out in a parallel circuit?

The other lights can stay on.

Review:

Why do the other lights stay on in

a parallel circuit?
Review:

Why do the other lights stay on in

a parallel circuit?

Because the current can still

flow. It has other paths.