Electric Circuits for Kids: Series Circuit Parallel Circuit
What is an electric circuit for kids?
What is a complete circuit or a closed circuit?
What is an incomplete circuit or an open circuit?
How electric circuits work
An electrical circuit is composed of a source of energy (a battery/cell), two wires (an unbroken loop) that can carry electric current, and a light bulb.
Electric charges come out of the source of energy (a battery/cell), travel along conductors, go through a load to perform work, and are finally returned to the source. It is called a circuit because of the circular path that the electric charge flows through.
What is a series circuit parallel circuit?
What is a series circuit?
A series circuit is an electric circuit in which components (components refer to the several objects that make up a circuit.) are connected together in a single loop, one after the other, making a way for electricity to flow.
There are some distinguishing factors of a series circuit. For instance, the current remains constant throughout the circuit. The flow of current is restricted to one direction only, and it encounters consistent resistance along its path.
Furthermore, in a series circuit, the energy is distributed among components. The voltage across each component is directly related to its resistance. In a series circuit, the total resistance is equal to the combined sum of each component’s resistance.
Advantages and disadvantages of series circuits
Advantages:
1. Series circuits are relatively easy to construct since we only need to connect the components in a single line.
2. In a series circuit, the current flowing through each component is the same.
3. Fewer components are required to construct series circuits, which makes them very cost-effective for simple applications.
Disadvantages:
1. Voltage division: In a series circuit, the total voltage is divided among the components, which means each component receives a fraction of the total voltage, which may not be desirable in certain situations.
2. Component failure: If one component fails in a series circuit, the entire circuit will be interrupted, and no current will flow. This can be a disadvantage in critical applications where downtime is not acceptable.
What is a parallel circuit?
A parallel circuit has different pathways. When many components are connected side by side, it creates various channels for the current to travel, which is known as a parallel circuit design.
The electric current divides, and only a portion of it passes through any path. Each pathway can be turned on and off separately from the others. In a parallel circuit of lights, for example, part or all of the lights may be used.
The basic components of a parallel circuit
The basic components of a parallel circuit are:
- A power supply, such as a cell or battery,
- Connecting wires: Work as a conductor to flow electricity.
- Switch: to control the circuit.
- Bulb or electric device: act as a load to the circuit.
Advantages and disadvantages of parallel circuits
Advantages:
In a parallel circuit, the failure of one component doesn’t impact the other components’ ability to function.
Parallel circuits are appropriate for complex applications because they provide greater flexibility for growth and customization.
Disadvantages:
More wires and connections are required for parallel circuits than for series circuits, which makes their design and implementation a little more difficult.
The independent current that each branch of a parallel circuit draws may lead to an increase in power consumption.
If defective parts in a parallel circuit are not adequately found and fixed, they may pose a risk to public safety.
What is a series-parallel circuit?
This circuit includes a combination of both series and parallel connections. Some components are linked in series, while others are connected in parallel. To analyze the behavior of the circuit effectively, we need to examine each branch of the circuit.