SERIES AND PARALLEL

CIRCUITS

How they are affected by current.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF CURRENT

Alternating Current (AC)

Electrons flowing backwards

Direct Current (DC)

Electrons flowing forwards

Continuity – Current Working

Continuous flow of electrons

Multimeter – measures current, volts, resistance

FLOW OF CURRENT

Shown in a symbol diagram

Positive > Negative

Power flow

Negative > Positive

SERIES CIRCUIT

All components of a circuit are connected

together in a sequence. (If one bulb fails, this

breaks the circuit and all the bulbs go out.)

SERIES CIRCUIT

Top image: current is flowing and

both bulbs are lit.

Middle image: current is flowing

through the first bulb and missing the

second bulb because the wires are

connected. Also because there is more

power, the bulb is brighter that the

bulbs in the top image.

Bottom image: one bulb is missing,

making the circuit incomplete, so the

current cannot flow around the circuit,

so not lighting any bulbs.

PARALLEL CIRCUIT

A closed circuit which divides into two or more

paths before completing the circuit. (If one bulb

fails all the others continue to shine.)

PARALLEL CIRCUIT

Top image: current is flowing and

both bulbs are lit.

Middle image: current is taking the

path of least resistance and only

powering one bulb.

Bottom image: current is taking the

path of least resistance and only

powering one bulb.