Electric Circuits Circuits Electric charges move in a

Electric Circuits

Circuits �Electric charges move in a looped path called a circuit – starts and ends in the SAME spot �A simple circuit contains a source of energy and at least one conductor Energy (battery) Conductor - wire

Circuits �A circuit may also contain a SWITCH �A switch opens and closes a gap in the circuit A closed switch allows energy to flow through An open switch stops the current from flowing

Energy �The source of energy may be a battery �Chemical energy inside a battery transforms into Electrical energy �Energy flows from the negative (-) end of a battery to the positive (+) end �The flow of electrons is electricity �Some electric energy always changes to heat energy

Transforming Energy �Resistors can change electrical energy into other forms of energy (heat, light, sound, motion) �EXAMPLES Light Bulb turns Electrical Energy into Light Energy Bells & Buzzers turn Electrical Energy into Sound Energy

Circuit Diagram �A circuit diagram is a MAP of a circuit �Turn to page 484 in Textbook

Complex Circuits �Most electrical circuits are more complex than the one in a flashlight or a bell or buzzer �A parallel circuit has more than one branch or pathway A computer circuit has millions of paths �It still needs to be CLOSED for the electricity to flow �Starts and ends at same point �Parallel Circuit Diagram

Electromagnets �Electricity and Magnetism are closely related �Every electrical current produces a magnetic force �An electromagnet is a magnet that carries an electrical current �Like a magnet Has north and south poles �Unlike a magnet Can be switched on and off