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)