Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 1

Preview

Section 1 Schematic Diagrams and Circuits

Section 2 Resistors in Series or in Parallel

Section 3 Complex Resistor Combination

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 1

What do you think?

• Scientists often use symbols to represent

electrical components, such as batteries, bulbs,
and wires. On the next slide, you will see the
symbols for eight common electrical components
that you have seen and discussed previously.
• Predict the component shown by looking at each
symbol.
• Briefly explain why you think each symbol represents
that particular electrical component.

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 1

What do you think?

1 5

2 6

3 7

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 1

Schematic Diagram and Common Symbols

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Visual Concept

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 1

Schematic Diagrams
• Schematic diagrams use symbols to represent
components.
• They show how the parts in an electrical device are
arranged.

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 1

Electric Circuits
• An electric circuit is a set of
components providing a
complete, closed-loop path
for the movement of
electrons.
– Called a closed circuit
• If the path is broken, the
electrons do not flow.
– Called an open circuit

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 1

Inside a Light bulb

• A complete conducting path
is established inside the light
bulb.
– The tip of the bulb (a) is
connected to one side of the
filament (see the black line).
– The threads on the side of the
bulb (c) are connected to the
other side of the filament (see
the white line).

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 1

Short Circuits
• A short circuit bypasses the light bulb or other
load.
– It is a closed circuit.
– Electrons flow directly from - to + without passing
through the bulb.
– The current is large and the wire becomes hot.
• Short circuits in homes can cause fires.
– Fuses or circuit breakers are designed to turn off the
electron flow if short circuits occur.

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 1

Potential Difference in Circuits

• A device that increases the PE of the electrons,
such as a battery, is a source of emf
(electromotive force).
– Not really a force, but a PE difference
• Energy is conserved in electric circuits.
– The potential difference (ΔV) for the battery equals
the energy converted into heat as the electrons move
through the bulb.
• Electrons gain energy (battery) and lose energy (bulb) as
they make a complete trip.

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 1

Internal Resistance, EMF, and Terminal Voltage

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Visual Concept

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 1

Now what do you think?

• Draw schematic diagrams showing each of the
following circuits:
• An open circuit including a battery, open switch, and
bulb
• A closed circuit including a battery, closed switch, and
resistor
• A short circuit including a battery, bulb, and closed
switch

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 2

What do you think?

• Figure (a) shows a single bulb and battery as seen

before. Figures (b) and (c) each show two bulbs
connected to the battery. The batteries and bulbs are all
identical. Answer the three questions on the next slide
and explain your reasoning.

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 2

What do you think?

• How will the brightness of (b) and (c) compare to each

other and how does each compare to (a)? Explain.
• How will the brightness of (d) and (e) compare to each
other and how does each compare to (a)? Explain.
• Compare the total current leaving the battery in each of
the three circuits. Explain.
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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 2

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 2

Resistors in Series

• Series describes components of a circuit that provide a

single path for the current.
– The same electrons must pass through both light bulbs so the
current in each is the same.

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 2

Resistors in Series
• ΔVbattery= ΔV1 + ΔV2
– Conservation of energy
• ΔVbattery= IR1 + IR2
– Ohm’s law
• ΔVbattery= I(R1 + R2)
• ΔVbattery= IRequivalent
• Requivalent = R1 + R2

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 2

Equivalent Resistance

• Solving problems with series resistors:

– Find the equivalent resistance.
– Use Req with Ohm’s law to find ΔV or I.
– Use I and R1, R2, etc. to find ΔV1, ΔV2, etc.

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 2

Classroom Practice Problems

• A 6.00 V lantern battery is connected to each of
the following bulb combinations. Find the current
in each circuit and the potential difference across
each bulb.
– One bulb with a resistance of 7.50 Ω
– Two bulbs in series, each with a resistance of 7.50 Ω
– Four bulbs in series, each with a resistance of 7.50 Ω
• Answers:
– 0.800 A, 6.00 V
– 0.400 A, 3.00 V each
– 0.200 A, 1.50 V each

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 2

Resistors in Parallel

• Parallel describes components providing separate

conducting paths with common connecting points.
– The potential difference is the same for parallel components.
– Electrons lose the same amount of energy with either path.

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 2

Resistors in Parallel
• Ibattery = I1 + I2
– Conservation of charge

– Ohm’s law

• ΔVbattery= ΔV1 = ΔV2

– Potential energy loss is the same across all parallel resistors.

• Because ΔVbattery= ΔV1 = ΔV2, the equation above reduces as

follows:

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 2

Equivalent Resistance

• Solving problems with parallel resistors:

– Find the equivalent resistance.
– Use Req with Ohm’s law to find ΔV or Itotal.
– Use ΔV to find I1, I2, etc.

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 2

Classroom Practice Problems

• Find the equivalent resistance, the total current
drawn by the circuit, and the current in each
resistor for a 9.00 V battery connected to:
– One 30.0 Ω resistor
– Three 30.0 Ω resistors connected in parallel
• Answers:
– 30.0 Ω, 0.300 A, 0.300 A
– 10.0 Ω, 0.900 A, 0.300 A

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 2

Comparing Resistors in Series and in Parallel

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Visual Concept

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 2

Summary

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 2

Wiring Lights
• The series circuit shows a
bulb burned out.
– What will happen to the
other bulbs?
– Would this also happen in
the parallel circuit?
• Assuming the bulbs are
identical:
– Which circuit will draw more
current?
– In which circuit are the
bulbs brighter?

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 2

Now what do you think?

• How will the brightness of (b) and (c) compare to each

other and how does each compare to (a)? Explain.
• How will the brightness of (d) and (e) compare to each
other and how does each compare to (a)? Explain.
• Compare the total current leaving the battery in each of
the three circuits. Explain.

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 3

What do you think?

• Household circuits typically have many outlets

and permanent fixtures such as hanging light
fixtures on each circuit.
• Are these wired in series or in parallel?
• Why do you believe one of these methods has an
advantage over the other method?
• What disadvantages would the other method of wiring
have for household circuits?

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 3

Analysis of Complex Circuits

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Visual Concept

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 3

Complex Resistor Calculations

• Req for 6.0 Ω and 2.0 Ω
– Answer: 8.0 Ω
• Req for 8.0 Ω and 4.0 Ω
– Answer: 2.7 Ω
• Req for 3.0 Ω and 6.0 Ω and
• To find the equivalent
2.7 Ω and 1.0 Ω
resistance for the
– Answer: 12.7 Ω
circuit shown above,
• So, the resistance of all 6
follow the steps shown
to the right: resistors is equivalent to a
single 12.7 Ω resistor.

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 3

Complex Resistor Calculations

• Find the total current in
the equivalent circuit.
– Answer: 0.71 A
– This is the current through
the 1.0 Ω, 6.0 Ω (on the
• For the 2.0 Ω resistor, left), and 3.0 Ω loads
find the current and the • Find the total potential
potential difference. drop across the parallel
– To solve this problem, use combination of three
the step-by-step approach
resistors.
shown.
– Answer: 1.9 V
– Continued on the next slide

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 3

Complex Resistor Calculations

• Find the current through
the combined 6.0 Ω and
2.0 Ω resistor.
– Answer: 0.24 A
• Find the potential
difference across the 2.0
Ω resistor.
– Answer: 0.48 V

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 3

Classroom Practice Problems

• For the circuit shown, find
the:
– Equivalent resistance
– Current through the 3.0 Ω
resistor
– Potential difference across
the 6.0 Ω resistor
• Answers:
– 6.6 Ω, 1.8 A, 6.5 V

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Circuits and Circuit Elements Section 3

Now what do you think?

• Household circuits typically have many outlets

and permanent fixtures such as hanging light
fixtures on each circuit.
• Are these wired in series or in parallel?
• Why do you believe one of these methods has an
advantage over the other method?
• What disadvantages would the other method of wiring
have for household circuits?

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