Electric Circuits
Download
Report
Transcript Electric Circuits
Simple Circuits
Challenge Questions
1. Why can a bird be perched on a high voltage wire?
No potential difference between bird’s feet, therefore no current.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLW6MEZ9Dcs
2. If a parachutist grabs onto a wire, what happens?
What if it breaks? Why should the parachutist let go as it
falls to the ground?
No potential difference in the first situation, so no current. If they
hold on and their feet touch the ground, there will be a current
due to potential difference between the wire and the ground.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jleAxuFGknk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtQtRGI0F2Q&feature=related
Battery and Light Bulb
Consider the diagram of the circuit you
created to light the light bulb.
Light Bulb
How does a light bulb make a full conducting
path?
Electric Circuits
Electric Circuit
A set of electrical components connected so that
they provide one or more complete paths for the
movement of charges
Ex. Light Bulb
Filament is a resistor. When wire connects battery
to the bulb, charges built up on one terminal of battery
have a path to reach the opposite charges on the
other terminal. Charges move creating a current.
Current causes filament to heat and glow.
Electric Circuits
Circuit
The path where electrons flow.
Current
The rate at which the charge flows past a point.
Voltage
The amount of “push” behind electrons.
Resistance
Equal to potential difference divided by current.
EMF
The energy per unit charge supplied by a source of electric current
Load – any element in a circuit that dissipates energy (ex. Bulb)
Closed circuit – a complete path from one battery terminal to
another.
Open circuit – no complete path, therefore no current
Schematic Diagram
Symbols
Wire
Resistor
Bulb
Plug
Battery
Switch
Capacitor
Think of Christmas lights. What happens when one
light burns out?
The circuit is no longer closed and all the bulbs go
dark.
So why use this?
- It decreases the current needed.
Several lesser resistances can add up to a single
greater resistance.
Important to have no current if something fails (ex.
Burglar alarm)
Resistors in Parallel
Parallel
Describes two or more components in a circuit that are
connected across common points or junctions, providing
separate conducting paths for the current.
Ex. Christmas Lights
In series, if a single burns out, they all go dark. In parallel, they have an
alternative path. Current varies, potential difference remains the same.
Resistors in Series
Req = R1 + R2 + R3…
Equivalent resistance equals the total of individual resistances in series.
I = ΔV/Req
ΔV = IR1 and ΔV = IR2
VT = V1 + V2 + V3…
Resistors in Parallel
1/Req = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3…
Equivalent resistance of resistors in parallel can be calculated using a
reciprocal relationship.
IT = I1 + I2 + I3…
I = ΔV/Req
ΔV =IReq
Series and Parallel Resistors
Series
Parallel
Current
same as total
add to find total
Potential Difference
add to find total
same as total
12V
V = IR
Each Resistor =10 Ω
V = (0.4A)(10 Ω)
Req = 10+10+10
V = 4 volts
Req = 30 Ω
VT = 4V + 4V + 4V = 12V
I = V/R
I = V/R
I = 12V / 30 Ω
I = 4V / 10 Ω
I = 0.4A
I = 0.4A
P = IV
P = (0.4A)(4V)
P = 1.6 W
12V
Each Resistor =10 Ω
1/ Req = (1/10)+(1/10)+(1/10) = 3/10
Req = 3.33 Ω
I = V/R
I = 12V / 3.33 Ω
I = 3.6A
V = 12V
I = V/R
I = 12V / 10 Ω
I = 1.2A
IT = 1.2A + 1.2A + 1.2A = 3.6A
P = IV
P = (1.2A)(12V)
P = 14.4W