Electric circuits ‘1. Read the text and label the picture with the name of each part. An electric circuit or network is a pathway through which the electric current can flow. A simple circuit consists of a power source, two conducting wires, each one alfached to a terminal of the source and « device through which electricity can flow. This device is called «load and it's atoched to the wires. If all the paris ore properly connected, the current flows and the lamp lights up. This kind of circuit is called ‘closed! ‘Onthe contrary, ifthe wires are disconnected the circuit is called ‘open’ or ‘broken’. The circuit can be opened and closed by a device called a switeh, loads can turn electrical energy into « more useful form. Some exomples are: slight bulbs, which change electrical energy into light energy; electric motors, which change electrical energy into mechanical energy: 1 speakers, which change energy inio sound. The source provides the electrical energy used by the load. It can be a storage battery or a generator. The switch interrupts the current delivered to the load by the source and allows Us to control the flow. Match the words with their definitions. When an abnormally high amount of current passes through o network, you get a short ‘revit. This moy occur when there is a drop in the resistance or @ broken insulation. In order fo prevent short circuils, itis best fo use fuses, which melt when too much current flows: through them, interrupting in this way the cirevih 1 load 4 Cla device which interrupts the circuit 2 switch b Cla circuit in which wires are disconnected 3 source cc Cla device which provides power 4 fuse d Cla complete circuit with no breaks at all 5 closed circuit ¢ Cla device which consumes electric power 6 broken circuit 1 Dla protective device Read the text again and answer the following questions. 1 What does a simple circuit consist of? 2 What happens to the lamp in a closed circuit? 3 Can you name some examples of loads? 4 What is @ generator? 5 What is the function of a sw 6 When coes a short circuit occur? 7 What can we use to prevent short circuits? 8B How does a fuse work?4 ()6 Complete the texts with the words in the box. Then listen and check. “components current turnen branch amount positive appliances continue burns out path The 1) components ofa circuit can be wired in wo diferent ways series or parallel I components are arranged one afeer another to form singe (2) becween the terminals and the components, che circuit is own as series crit. In this type oF circuit, the (3) flows from the negative termina to | thea} icayalicsg tsi We ce, | components ofthe circuit. This means that the (5) cof energy passing through ll he components inthe seriesisthe same. The main disadvantage ofa series circuits that when a single component inthe path 6) the entre circuit stops operating (eg. Christmas tre lights). ‘parallel crui consists of several paths connecting the different components. Each separate path icalled 8 a ofthe circuit. Current from the ‘source divides and flows through the differen branches Unlike series cruits, fone ofthe components in the parallel cicuit burs out, he other paths @ to operate, Parallel cuits are commonly wed re conavet (9) a home, so that each socket can function independently ee Sa ies eee 5. Read the text and find synonyms for the words below. A fase can be added to an electric circu to protect it from the effects of undue power. This sty device, which ismade ota hea sensitive alloy, 1s connected ens wit the eeu thao pots an excessive amount ot uments through the ete the alloy will quefy and open the - cir. circuit breakers fundamental in x house to proteet circuits aguins overloading, overheating and shor cies, The advantage of ‘a circuit breaker is that it can be reset after the overloading by my replacing the fuse. A professional electrician should always Ye provide his customers with a map of the eleetrie circuit in the Houses that wl be casero wok ont in cane nol | 1 excessive: 4 loading up 2 reacting to high temperatures S adjusted: 3 to melt: chen so aange tearm power source past) 08 brane to prevent open to burn out As ban aa = series real or sy device han short drt oe sot ial od socket ok fase zl speaker 057 light bu a Bl ste ow fo fou tr it tome fo meld unde snd parallel circuit /paeatel ‘xku/ 6