Electrical Circuits

• Current electricity:

  • Electricity is a force due to charged particles.
  • Current electricity - flow of electric charge & electrons through a conductor.
  • Electrical circuit - a path made of wires that allows electrons (electrical current) to flow through to create electricity.
• Parts of a circuit:

  • Energy source (battery) - provides the force (voltage) that allows current to flow through the circuit.
  • Load - converts electrical energy into another form (e.g. light bulb)
  • Switch - opens and closes the circuit.
  • Wires - connects the energy source and load.
• Closed circuit:

  • current can move from a battery through the wires, to the bulb and back to the battery because there is a path to follow.
• Open circuit:

  • one of the wires becomes unattached so current cannot flow because the path is incomplete.
• Circuit Diagrams:

  • map of circuit shows how components are made.
• What symbol is this?

  Cell.

  
• What symbol is this?

  Ammeter.

  
• What symbol is this?

  Bulb/Light.

  
• What symbol is this?

  Voltmeter.

  
• What symbol is this?

  Battery.

  
• What symbol is this?

  Closed switch.

  
• What symbol is this?

  Open switch.