Parallel circuits 02032021 Learning Objective Predict and explain

Parallel circuits 02/03/2021 • Learning Objective: Predict and explain measurements of current in different parts of parallel circuits Starter: Quick Quiz/Run around.

02/03/2021 1 Which of these statements is true? A Plastic is a conductor because it lets electricity flow through it. B Plastic is an insulator because it lets electricity flow through it. C Metals are conductors because they let electricity flow through them. D Metals are insulators because they let electricity flow through them.

02/03/2021 2 What do these symbols show? A B C D a cell and a bulb a cell and a switch a bulb and a switch and a motor

02/03/2021 3 Which instrument would you use to measure current? A C an ammeter a motor B a cell D voltmeter

02/03/2021 4 How big would the current be at X, Y and Z? A It would be biggest at X and smallest at Z. B It would be biggest at Z and smallest at X. C There would be no current at Y. D It would be the same at all three places.

02/03/2021 5 You can make the current in a circuit smaller by: A B C D putting a switch in the circuit. putting more bulbs in the circuit. taking some bulbs out of the circuit. putting more cells in the circuit.

02/03/2021 6 Electricity is: A a source of energy. B a kind of liquid inside the wires. C tiny particles called electrons flowing through the wires. D tiny particles called atoms flowing through the wires.

02/03/2021 Think about a heating system

02/03/2021 Series - the current goes in one loop only Parallel - the current splits into more than one loop

Parallel circuits 02/03/2021 A parallel circuit is one where the current has a “choice of routes”:

Parallel Circuits and Switches 02/03/2021 First, connect your bulbs and switch all in series as shown below. + B A Next, connect one bulb and switch in parallel to the other bulb like this: - + A B

Advantages of parallel circuits… 02/03/2021 There are two main reasons why parallel circuits are used more commonly than series circuits: 1) Extra appliances (like bulbs) can be added without affecting the output of the others 2) If one appliance breaks it won’t affect the others either