ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS All you need to be an inventor is a good imagination and a pile of junk. -Thomas Edison

What is a circuit? If you want electricity–you need a circuit. And, if you want a circuit you ALWAYS need two things: a power supply and a conductor. Most circuits also have an electrical device and a switch.

What is a circuit? Power Supply: (Battery) “Pump”- adds energy to electrons in the atoms of the wire Conductor: (Wire)- The material where all the atoms and electrons are located. Electrical Device: (Light Bulb)- Uses electricity to perform a function

In a closed circuit, current Circuit Diagram battery _ + bulb In a closed circuit, current flows around the loop

Open Circuit (“Off”) If the switch is open, there is no force directing electrons down the path, so they just keep orbiting the nucleus, or they drift around randomly. Electricity can't flow at times like this.

Closed Circuit (“On”) If the switch is closed and all parts of the circuit are connected, the circuit is complete and electrons are "pushed" through the circuit by the power supply adding energy to the electrons. We call that "push" voltage–that's why electrical power is measured in volts!

Closed Circuit (“On”)

Would This Work?

Would This Work?

Would This Work?

The Central Concept: Closed Circuit

Simple Circuits Series circuit All in a row 1 path for electricity 1 light goes out and the circuit is broken

Simple Circuits Parallel circuit Many paths for electricity 1 light goes out and the others stay on

Series and Parallel Circuits Series Circuits only one end of each component is connected e.g. Christmas tree lights Parallel Circuits both ends of a component are connected e.g. household lighting

What is electricity How does it work? A battery or outlet provides energy to push electrons that exist in the atoms of the conducting wire. The electrons then travel to the bulb or said destination. Electrons travel from the negative anode to the positive cathode.