Electrical Circuits – Flashcards
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Name the three components of an electrical circuit. (Knowledge)
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Power source, conductor, and load.
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In a series circuit of light bulbs, what happens when one bulb goes out? Why? (Comprehension)
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When one bulb goes out in a series circuit the other bulbs go out too. The reason for this is that in a series circuit, the electricity has only one path it can take and each bulb connects the entire circuit. Therefore, when one goes out, the the circuit is incomplete.
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Connect the following items to the wires and then touch the light bulb holder: Penny, paperclip, straw, toothpick. Record your observation (Did bulb light up?). After testing each material, mark it as either a conductor or an insulator.
What do the materials that you identified as conductors have in common? Based on this, what can we conclude about electrical conductors? (Analysis)
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Penny and paper clip: Lights up
Toothpick and straw: Does not light up
Pennies and paper clips are both made of metal. Thus, we can conclude that metal is a good conductor of electricity.
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Dave decorated his house with lights around Christmas. However, when one burnt out, all of the others did too. What happened with Dave's lights? How might he avoid this problem when he buys Christmas lights? (Application)
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Dave's decoration lights were series circuits. While series circuits have the advantage of being cheaper, they are less effective for lighting. Dave could avoid this problem by checking that the lights he buys are parallel circuits. This way, if one goes out, the electricity has other paths it can travel and thus not all of the lights will go out.
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What are the advantages and disadvantages of series and parallel circuits? Use the Internet to conduct research and find your answer. (Evaluation)
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Series circuits are easier and cheaper to construct, and are appropriate for items that conduct a small amount of electricity. However, when one circuit is broken the entire item will stop working.
Parallel circuits are harder to construct and cost more money, but the advantage is that when one part of the circuit goes out, the device will keep working. For example, in a house or apartment, if one light goes out, the rest of the lights will stay on.
