Regional Training of Trainers on

Critical Content
Science 8: Electric Circuit
Activity 2

Circuit
Connections
 Activity 2A
Given the ff. materials,
–2 - 2.2 V light bulb with holder
–2 - 1.5 V dry cell
–3 connecting wires w/ alligator clips
Construct a circuit such that if you
unscrew one bulb, the other bulb will
not light. Note the brightness of the bulbs
before you unscrew one bulb.

Draw a schematic diagram of your

circuit. Label this as Circuit A.
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 Activity 2B
Given the ff. materials,
–2 - 2.2 V light bulb with holder
–2 - 1.5 V dry cell
–4 connecting wires w/ alligator clips
Construct a circuit such that if you
unscrew one bulb, the other bulb will
remain lit. Note the brightness of the
bulbs before you unscrew one bulb.

Draw a schematic diagram of your

circuit. Label this as Circuit B.
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 Guide Questions
Compare the two circuits in terms of:
Point of Comparison Circuit A Circuit B
1. When one bulb is
unscrewed, what
happens to the other
bulb?
2. How are the bulbs
connected to the dry cell?
3. Describe the
brightness of the bulbs in
each circuit.

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What do you call Circuit A?

SERIES CIRCUIT
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What do you call Circuit B?

PARALLEL CIRCUIT
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PREDICT, TEST AND EXPLAIN
How will the brightness of the bulbs change as
we add more in series?

+ + +

What does this imply about the current in the

circuit?

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 SERIES CIRCUIT
When electrons have
to flow through one
part to get to the next
part
More components =
more resistance
Increase resistance =
decrease current (flow)

Less current =
less bright bulbs
As voltage increases,
current increases
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SERIES CIRCUIT PROS & CONS
Problems with Series:
The more devices (resistors) in a series circuit,
the less current passes through (dimmer bulbs).

If one resistor breaks (a bulb goes out) the entire

series is turned off.

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SERIES CIRCUIT - RESISTANCE

Resistors – resists the flow of electrical

current

• Increased resistance will reduce the rate

at which charge flows (aka current)

• Total resistance goes UP with each

resistor since the current has must go
through each resistor.

• Total Resistance = Sum of all

resistors in the series
RT = R1+R2+ R3…
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SERIES CIRCUIT - CURRENT

Current = amount of charge (flow of

electrons)
 Like the flow of water
 A current can't just disappear
(appear)
 Since only one path if some electrons
flow through R1, then they have to
continue flowing through R2 and R3.

 Since the Current is the same

through the entire circuit
IT=I1=I2=I3

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 SERIES CIRCUIT - VOLTAGE
Voltage is the electric equivalent of
water pressure.

The higher the voltage, the faster electrons

will flow through the conductor.

Each component has resistance that

causes a drop in voltage (reduction in
voltage).

Total Voltage = The sum of voltages across

each series resistors
VT = V1 + V2 + V3…

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TO SUM IT UP…

Series

Voltage (V) VT = V1 + V2 + V3…

Current (I) IT=I1=I2=I3

Resistance
RT = R1+R2+ R3…
(R)

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 SERIES CIRCUIT - EXAMPLE

• Given
– Vbattery = 12 V
– R1 = 50 W, R2 = 100 W, R3 = 100 W

• Complete the following table

V I R
1 2.4 0.048 50
2 4.8 0.048 100
3 4.8 0.048 100
T 12 0.048 250

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PREDICT, TEST AND EXPLAIN
How will the brightness of the bulbs change as
we add more in parallel?

+ + +

What does this imply about the current in the

circuit?

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 PARALLEL CIRCUIT PROS & CONS

Advantages
The more devices (resistors) in a parallel circuit, does
not decrease the current (does not dim bulbs).

If one resistor breaks (a bulb goes out) the rest do not.

Problems
Current doesn’t stay the same for entire circuit
So energy is used up quicker
So the total current increases = faster electrons = hotter wire = fire?

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 PARALLEL CIRCUIT - RESISTANCE
• Resistors added side-by-side
• The more paths, the less TOTAL
resistance.
1/ RT=1/R1+1/R2+1/R3
• Ex. 2 resistors in parallel with 4Ω
each.
• Since the circuit offers
two equal pathways for charge flow,
only 1/2 the charge will choose to
pass through a given branch.

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 THE TOLL GATE ANALOGY

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/circuits/Lesson-4/Two-Types-of-Connections

• Adding toll booths in series increases resistance and slows the

current flow.
• Adding toll booths in parallel lowers resistance and increases the
current flow.
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PARALLEL CIRCUIT - CURRENT
ALL paths are used!

But the charge divides up into all

branches

One branch can have more current

than another branch (depends on
resistance in branch).

Total current = sum of current in each

path
IT = I1 + I2 + …

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PARALLEL CIRCUIT - VOLTAGE

• A charge only passes

through a single resistor.
• Voltage drop across each
resistor that it chooses to
pass through must be equal
the voltage of the battery.
• Total voltage = the voltage
across each individual
resistor
VT = V1 = V2 = …

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TO SUM IT UP…

Parallel

Voltage (V) VT = V1 = V2 = …

Current (I) IT = I1 + I2 + …

Resistance
1/RT=1/R1+1/R2+1/R3
(R)

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SERIES VS. PARALLEL CIRCUIT

Series Parallel

Vtot = V1 + V2 +
Voltage (V) Vtot = V1 = V2 = …
V3…

Current (I) Itot=I1=I2=I3 Itot = I1 + I2 + …

Resistance 1/Req=1/R1+1/R2+1/R3
Req = R1+R2+ R3…
(R)

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Which is better? Series or Parallel?

Parallel
• Most things are wired in parallel
• Because of the fact that the more you plug in,
the intensity doesn’t decrease.
• Of course, this also increases the risk of fire
• This is why homes have fuses or circuit
breakers. They turn off everything in the
circuit when current moves too fast.

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Activity 3

The Shortcut
 Guide Questions
a) What happened to the bulb when the exposed
parts of the wire touch momentarily?
(The light of the bulb went out/becomes dimmer)
b) How does it feel? (It feels hot/warm?)
c) What would happen if we let the exposed
wires touch for a longer period of time?
(It will become very hot.)
d) What do you call this circuit and why?
(Short circuit. Because the current takes the path of
least resistance.)

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Which of these bulbs will light?
Build the circuits!
Electricity will always
A. take the easiest path.

 It is easier to flow through

a wire than through the
bulb.
B. So in circuits B and C the

x
electricity does not pass
through the bulb.
The cell or battery still
loses energy because ,
C. electricity is still flowing.
x This type of circuit is
known as a SHORT
CIRCUIT.
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What is a short circuit?
Current will always pass along the path of least resistance.
The resistance of the wires in a circuit is low compared to the
resistance of components, such as bulbs.
If current can flow without passing through the components
in a circuit, this is called a short circuit.

The current can only pass These circuits both contain a

through the bulb. short circuit.

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Circuit Protector

Fuse
A fuse is a safety device that
protects an electric cable from
overheating so that the
insulation does not catch fire.

Electronic
Symbol

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How does a fuse work?
A fuse is a built-in weak point in a circuit. It contains a thin
wire with a higher resistance than normal wire.
terminals

thin wire with case made of

high resistance insulating material
When a large current flows the wire becomes hot. If too
much current flows, the wire overheats and melts, which
breaks the circuit.
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