Quiz on Series and Parallel Circuits

Which diagrams are parallel circuits?

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Match the descriptions by dragging the diagrams to the correct paragraph.

• Circuit with 3 light globes in parallel

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• Circuit with 3 light globes in series

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• Circuit with 2 light globes in series

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Write a description for each of this circuit diagram

Answer explanation

A power source with 4 globes with 4 open switches, each with in parallel with each

other.

What kind of circuit is this? How do you know?

Answer explanation

Series circuit- only one pathway for the electrical current to flow.

Electrons move from the negative terminal to the positive terminal. Draw arrows on the diagram to show the path of the current.

If globe 1 was removed, what would happen to globe 2?

Answer explanation

Globe 2 would not light up.

If globe 1 was replaced with a wire, what would happen to the brightness of globe 2? Justify your reasoning.

Answer explanation

Globe 2 would be brighter. This is because there is less overall resistance in the circuit and the voltage through globe 2 would be higher.

1. 1. What kind of circuit is this?

2. 2. How many paths can the electron follow?

3. 3. If globe 4 was removed, what would happen to globes 1 and 3?

4. 4. Looking at the diagram, which globe is not working?

5. 5. Describe the relative brightness of each globe compared to the others.

Answer explanation

1. 1. Parallel circuit

2. 2. 4 paths

3. 3. Globes 1 and 3 would glow brighter

4. 4. Globe 2

5. 5. The globes 1,3 and 4 would all be equally bright. Globe 2 would not glow at all.

Do you think your house would be wired like circuit 1 or circuit 2? Give a reason for your answer.

Answer explanation

Circuit 2- as if you wanted to turn one light off using a switch you could turn it off. Also if there was a globe that had blown, all other lights would remain working.