current in series circuits

• Series circuit


  A circuit with no branches, where the current can only flow in one path around the circuit
• Electric current


  The flow of electrical charge around a circuit
• Electric current


  • It is never used up in a circuit
  • In a series circuit, the current is the same all the way around
• Circuit components


  • Cell
  • Lamp
  • Open switch
  • Closed switch
• Ammeter


  A device used to measure the electric current in a circuit
• The unit of electric current is the ampere (A)
• The term "amp" is an acceptable short form of "ampere"
• When the switch is closed

  Electrons flow out of the cell and move around the circuit
• Electrons flow from the negative end of the cell to the positive end


  They carry energy from the cell and pass it to the components in the circuit
• Scientists used to think the current flowed from the positive end of the cell to the negative end, but we now know this is incorrect
• The direction of the current is still represented with an arrow pointing from the positive end to the negative end, which is called the "conventional current"