types of circuit
There are two types of electrical circuits;
SERIES CIRCUITS PARALLEL CIRCUITS
Current has only one route- from the source through several loads and back to the source.
SERIES CIRCUITS
If one bulb ‘blows’ it breaks the whole circuit and all the bulbs go out.
measuring current
A
Electric Current (I) is measured using an ammeter which is connected in series with the loads.
PARALLEL CIRCUITS
The current from the source divides to each load in separate paths and goes back to the source.
If one bulb ‘burns out’ the other bulbs or loads will still work.
Measuring Current
measuring current
A A
This is how we draw an ammeter in a circuit.
SERIES CIRCUIT PARALLEL CIRCUIT
measuring currentSERIES CIRCUIT
PARALLEL CIRCUIT
current is the same at all points in the circuit.
2A 2A
2A
current is shared between the components
2A2A
1A
1A
copy the following circuits and fill in the missing ammeter readings.
?
?
4A
4A
4A
3A?
?
1A
?
3A
1A
1A
measuring voltageThe ‘electrical push’ which the cell
gives to the current is called the
voltage. It is measured in volts (V) on
a voltmeter
V
Measuring Voltage
measuring voltage
Unlike an ammeter a voltmeter
is connected across the
components
The term Potential Difference (pd)
refers to voltage.
measuring voltage
V
This is how we draw a voltmeter in a circuit.
SERIES CIRCUIT PARALLEL CIRCUIT
V
V
measuring voltage
VV
V
series circuit
1.5V
• voltage is shared between the components
1.5V
3V
• voltage is the same in all parts of the circuit.
3V
parallel circuit
3V
3V
measuring current & voltagecopy the following circuits on
the next two slides.
complete the missing current and voltage readings.
remember the rules for current and voltage in series and parallel circuits.
V V
6V
4A
A
A
a)measuring current &
voltage
V
V
6V4A A
A
A
b)
measuring current & voltage
4.5 V
V
V2A A
1 A
A
c)
measuring current & voltage
12 V
V
V2A A
1 A
A
d)
measuring current & voltage
V
A
__V
__V
3A
__V
__A
__A __A__A
__V __V
24 V
__V
e)