Parallel and Series Circuits

A resistance is also called a

load (which uses the energy)

The wires will burn and catch on fire if there is no

load or resistance

Components of a circuit

Battery, resistance, wires, voltmeter, ohmmeter, ammeter, capacitor, switch, variable r (c)

Voltmeter 

measures volts, always in parallel 

Ammeter

measures current, always in series

Ohmmeter

measures resistance, always in parallel AND with the circuit open

Series

Everything in on a single path

Parallel 

multiple paths 

Combination

contains both Series and Parallel circuits

Electricity is the flow of

electrons

Current is how we

measure the flow of electrons

Electron current is how current actually flows -

Electrons flow out of the negative end of the battery

The simplest circuit is just a 

complete circle 

Open circuit means there is a 

break in the circuit 

Closed circuit means there are

no breaks

Circuits USE

Voltage not Current

Current is made of

electrons, which cannot be created nor destroyed

Voltage is like work, which can be used to do…

work

Current carries electrons that

carry the energy to do work

Voltage Drop in a Circuit -

The sum of voltage drops across each resistance must add up to the voltage of the battery. Regardless of current or resistance.

Loop rule

the sum of the voltage drops in a loop must equal the input voltage