Electrical Circuits
Description
Since the late 1800s, engineers have designed systems to utilize electrical energy due to its ability to be converted, stored, transmitted, and reconverted efficiently into other forms of energy. In the 21st century, electrical energy production, distribution, and application have become consumer driven. Today’s consumer utilizes electrical energy in all aspects of life, from cell phones and computers to refrigeration and heating and cooling systems, and even transportation. Electrical energy, depending on geographic location, is converted from mechanical energy, chemical energy, light energy, and thermo energy before it reaches the consumer. Regardless of the conversion process, electrical energy consists of three basic components: current, voltage, and resistance. Current is the net transfer of electric charge per unit of time. Voltage is the amount of work required to move a charge from one point to another. Resistance is the opposition to the flow of current. Understanding the relationship between current, voltage, and resistance allows engineers to design efficient, safe, and functional electrical circuits. Electrical circuits consist of the following components: an energy source to provide voltage, conductors to allow current travel, insulators to limit current travel, and a load. Electrical circuits provide an uninterrupted path for current travel and are broken into two distinct categories of design: series circuits and parallel circuits.
Conclusion Questions
1. The main difference between a series and parallel circuit is that a series circuit only gives the electrons one path to flow through.
2. In a circuit, both of the DC bulb's voltage will drop, unlike the battery. The main power source's voltage tends to stay constant.
3. In a series circuit, the current through all items is the same. The voltage across each item will be directly proportional to their resistance.
4. In a parallel circuit, the voltage across all items are all the same.
5. In a parallel circuit, the current will split inversely proportional to it's resistance.
6. The voltage output at the battery is the same as the voltage of all the bulbs, while the total current is divided up between the bulbs.
7. Both the voltage of the battery and the current in the circuit are divided up between bulbs.
2. In a circuit, both of the DC bulb's voltage will drop, unlike the battery. The main power source's voltage tends to stay constant.
3. In a series circuit, the current through all items is the same. The voltage across each item will be directly proportional to their resistance.
4. In a parallel circuit, the voltage across all items are all the same.
5. In a parallel circuit, the current will split inversely proportional to it's resistance.
6. The voltage output at the battery is the same as the voltage of all the bulbs, while the total current is divided up between the bulbs.
7. Both the voltage of the battery and the current in the circuit are divided up between bulbs.