1. Ch 35 Electric Circuits Concept Summary Batesville High School Physics

2. Ch 35 Electric Circuits
Circuit Schematics
A schematic diagram is a symbolic representation of a circuit.
A symbol represents each item in the circuit
Lines represent wires (paths for charges).

3. Ch 35 Electric Circuits
Circuit Symbols

4. Three Types of Circuits
Ch 35 Electric Circuits
Three Types of Circuits
Series
Parallel
Compound

5. Series Circuits Series circuits have 1 path for charges to flow.
Ch 35 Electric Circuits
Series Circuits
Series circuits have 1 path for charges to flow.

6. Ch 35 Electric Circuits
Series Circuits
Voltage may be different across different objects in a series circuit.
Sum of the individual voltages = source voltage
Current is the same in all parts of a series circuit.
If one “goes out”, they all “go out”

7. Ch 35 Electric Circuits
Parallel Circuits
A parallel circuit has two or more paths for charges to move.

8. Ch 35 Electric Circuits
Parallel Circuits
Voltage is the same across each element in a parallel circuit.
Current may vary through different elements in a parallel circuit.
Sum of the individual currents = source current.
If one “goes out”, the other “stays lit”.

9. Ch 35 Electric Circuits
Compound Circuits
A compound circuit has both series and parallel parts.

10. Adding Resistance in Series
Ch 35 Electric Circuits
Adding Resistance in Series
When you add resistance in series:
Total resistance increases
Current decreases

11. Equivalent Series Circuits
Ch 35 Electric Circuits
Equivalent Series Circuits
Rseries = R1 + R2

12. Adding Resistance in Parallel
Ch 35 Electric Circuits
Adding Resistance in Parallel
When you add resistance in parallel:
Total resistance decreases
Current increases

13. Equivalent Parallel Circuits
Ch 35 Electric Circuits
Equivalent Parallel Circuits

14. Household Circuits Household circuits are: parallel circuits
Ch 35 Electric Circuits
Household Circuits
Household circuits are:
parallel circuits
Typically designed to carry 15 Amperes of current - maximum.

15. Ch 35 Electric Circuits
Overloading Circuits
Since adding resistance to a parallel circuit causes current to increase, adding appliances to a household circuit causes current in the house wiring to increase.
This means wires must dissipate more heat energy (P = I2R).

16. Ch 35 Electric Circuits
Short Circuits
A short circuit is a very low resistance path in a circuit.
A short circuit will also cause large amounts of current to flow in a circuit and overload the circuit.

17. Fuses & Circuit Breakers
Ch 35 Electric Circuits
Fuses & Circuit Breakers
Fuses and circuit breakers act as automatic switches in a circuit to prevent dangerous currents from flowing.

18. Ch 35 Electric Circuits
The End