Electric Circuits: Components and Diagrams
Electric circuits are the backbone of modern electrical systems, comprising four essential elements:
- A source of electrical energy (e.g., battery or generator)
- Devices that consume electrical energy (e.g., computer, light bulb, hair dryer)
- Conducting wires
- A switch
Circuit diagrams are visual representations of electric circuits, using standardized symbols to depict various components:
Vocabulary: Circuit diagram - A schematic representation of an electrical circuit using standardized symbols.
- Battery: One or more pairs of lines
- Light bulb: An X inside a circle
- Conductor/wire: A straight line
- Switch: Two small circles
- Resistor: A zigzag line
Highlight: Resistors can represent any current-consuming device, such as hair dryers, toasters, or computers.
The guide also introduces the concepts of open and closed circuits:
Definition: Closed circuit - An unbroken path that allows current to flow when the switch is closed.
Series Circuits are characterized by a single path for current flow, where all components are connected one after another. This configuration has both advantages and disadvantages:
Highlight: In a series circuit, if one component fails, the entire circuit is disrupted.
Advantages of series circuits:
- Simple design and construction
- Cumulative voltage from multiple sources
5 disadvantages of series circuits:
- All components fail if one fails
- Light bulbs dim as more are added
- Increased resistance with each added component
- Decreased current flow
- Limited flexibility in component arrangement