ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS

All you need to be an inventor is a good imagination and a pile of junk.

-Thomas Edison
Ohm’s Law
I = Current (Amperes) (amps)
I=V/R V = Voltage (Volts)

R = Resistance (ohms)

Georg Simon Ohm (1787-1854)

How you should be thinking about electric
circuits:

Voltage: A force that pushes the current through

the circuit (in this picture it would be equivalent
to gravity).
How you should be thinking about electric
circuits:

Resistance: Friction that impedes flow of current

through the circuit (rocks in the river).
How you should be thinking about electric
circuits:

Current: The actual “substance” that is flowing

through the wires of the circuit (electrons!)
Circuit Diagram
Scientists usually draw electric circuits using symbols;

Cell

Lamp

Switch

Wires
Schematic Symbols
Before you begin to understand circuits you need to be able to draw what they look
like using a set of standard symbols understood anywhere in the world.
DC voltage source or battery schematic symbol. Specify
For the battery symbol, the LONG line is
voltage amplitude. An arrow through the symbol denotes a
variable voltage source (you must set the value manually). considered to be the POSITIVE terminal
and the SHORT line , NEGATIVE.

Resistance must be specified. An arrow through the symbol The VOLTMETER and AMMETER are
denotes a variable resistor (you set the value manually). special devices you place IN or AROUND
the circuit to measure the VOLTAGE and
Switch CURRENT.
Voltmeter
Battery
Ammeter
Light Bulb
Simple Circuits

Series circuit Parallel circuit

All in a row Many paths for electricity
1 path for electricity IF 1 light goes out and the others stay
IF 1 light goes out and the circuit is broken on
Series Circuits
1 2 3 Mark from 1 to 3 each diagram
according to brightness. (3
brightest)

Since the brightness of the bulbs

6V 6V 6V indicates how much current
flowing in the circuit, write a
Connect one Connect 2 bulbs Connect 3 bulbs statement which describes what
bulb to the and the battery to and the battery Happens to the current in a
battery. form a series from a series series circuit as you add more
circuit. circuit. resistors to the circuit.

The current decreases because the resistance increases. Ohm’s Law

says that I=V/R. The voltage in the system is constant, resistance increases.
Series Circuit
A
I ( series )Total = I1 = I 2 = I 3
I
V( series )Total = V1 + V2 + V3 R1 R2 R3

V( series )Total = V1 + V2 + V3 ; ∆V = IR
( I T RT ) series = I1 R1 + I 2 R2 + I 3 R3
Rseries = R1 + R2 + R3
Rs = ∑ Ri
V1 V2 V3
As the current goes through the circuit, the charges
must USE ENERGY to get through the resistor. So each
individual resistor will get its own individual potential
voltage). We call this VOLTAGE DROP.

Note: The term “effective” or “equivalent” can be also used to refer to Total resistance!
Parallel Circuit

In a parallel circuit, we have multiple loops. So the current splits up among the
loops with the individual loop currents adding to the total current.

It is important to understand that

parallel circuits will all have some
position where the current splits
and comes back together. We call
these JUNCTIONS.

The current going IN to a junction

Junctions will always equal the current going
OUT of a junction.
Tangreen services
Parallel Circuit

I1 I2 I3

V1 V2 V3

R1 R2 R3
V( parallel )Total = V1 = V2 = V3
I ( parallel )Total = I1 + I 2 + I 3 ; ∆V = IR
VT V V V
( ) Parallel = 1 + 2 + 3
RT R1 R2 R3
I ( parallel )Total = I1 + I 2 + I 3 1
=
1
+
1
+
1
RP R1 R2 R3
Regarding Junctions :
1 1
=∑
I IN = I OUT RP Ri
Measuring Current
Electric current is measured in amps (A) using an ammeter connected in series
in the circuit.

A
Measuring Current
This is how we draw an ammeter in a circuit.

A
A

Series Circuit Parallel Circuit

Measuring Voltage
The ‘electrical push’ which the cell gives to the current is called the voltage. It is
measured in volts (V) on a voltmeter.

V
Measuring Voltage
This is how we draw a voltmeter in a circuit.

V V

Series Circuit Parallel Circuit

OHM’s LAW
Measure the current and voltage across each circuit.
Use Ohm’s Law to compute resistance

Series Circuit
Voltage Current Resistance

Parallel Circuit
Voltage Current Resistance
Measuring Current
SERIES CIRCUIT PARALLEL CIRCUIT
• Current is the same at all points • current is shared between the
in the circuit. components

2A 2A
2A 2A

1A
2A
1A
Fill in the missing ammeter readings:

3A 3A
4A
1A
4A
1A
4A
1A
Series Circuits

Explain what happens to the current in a series circuit when there is a break in
circuit.

The circuit is no longer complete, therefore current can not flow.

Explain what happens to the voltage across each bulb as more bulbs are added
to the circuit.

The voltage decreases because the current is decreased and the resistance
increases.
Parallel Circuits

Explain what happens to the current in each bulb as more bulbs are added to
the circuit.

The current increases. Voltage remains the same and total resistance drops in a parallel
circuit as more bulbs are added.
Series and Parallel Circuits

Series Circuits
only one end of each component is connected
e.g. Christmas tree lights

Parallel Circuits
both ends of a component are connected
e.g. Household lighting
Circuit in diagram form

Filament
Battery

Current
Bulb

Electron flow
In a closed circuit, current flows
around the loop Current flowing through the filament
electrons flow opposite the indicated current makes it glow.
direction! (repelled by negative terminal) No Loop → No Current → No Light
Copy the following circuits and fill in the missing ammeter readings:

3A 3A
4A
1A
4A
1A
4A
1A
Measuring Voltage
Different cells produce different voltages. The bigger the voltage supplied by
the cell, the bigger the current.

Unlike an ammeter, a voltmeter is connected across the components

Scientist usually use the term Potential Difference (pd) when they talk about
voltage.
Measuring Voltage

V V
V
Series Circuit

• voltage is shared between the components

3V

1.5V 1.5V
Parallel Circuit

• Voltage is the same in all parts of the circuit.

3V

3V

3V
Measuring Current & Voltage

Copy the following circuits on the next two slides.

Complete the missing current and voltage readings.

Remember the rules for current and voltage in series and parallel
circuits.
Measuring Current & Voltage

A)

6V

4A A

V V

A
Measuring Current & Voltage

B)
6V
4A A
V

A
Answers

A) B)

6V 6V
4A A
4A A
V

A
V V
V
A
A
Voltage, Current, and Power

• One Volt is a Joule per Coulomb (J/C)

• One Amp of current is one Coulomb per second (6.24 x10^18 electrons/second).

• Electrical power is :
P = VI: power = voltage × current

• If I have one volt (J/C) and one amp (C/s), then multiplying them gives one Joules per
second (J/s)

• More work is done per unit time the higher the voltage and/or the higher the current
DC Current
• Direct current is the one way flow of electrical charge from a positive to a negative
charge.
• Batteries produce direct current.
• Direct Current is different than alternating current because the charge only flows in
one direction.
Alternating Current
• Alternating Current is when charges flow back and forth from a source.
• An AC current is a current that changes direction in time.
• It is the way we receive our electricity (for our houses, businesses, etc.)
Comparison Chart
Direct Current Alternating Current
Amount of energy that can Voltage of DC cannot travel very far until it Safe to transfer over longer city distances and can provide
be carried: begins to lose energy. more power.

Frequency: The frequency of direct current is zero. The frequency of alternating current is 50Hz or
60Hz depending upon the country.
Direction: It flows in one direction in the circuit. It reverses its direction while flowing in a circuit.

Current: It is the current of constant magnitude. It is the current of magnitude varying with time

Flow of Electrons: Electrons move steadily in one direction or Electrons keep switching directions - forward and backward.
'forward'.
Obtained from: Cell or Battery. A.C Generator and mains.
Passive Parameters: Resistance only Impedance.
Types: Pure and pulsating. Sinusoidal, Trapezoidal, Triangular, Square.