Current in Series and Parallel Circuits

The picture shows an electrical circuit. This circuit is a series circuit because:

• It has 3 light bulbs.

• The same current flows through all three light bulbs.

• It uses a single battery.

• The electrical current is divided between the three light bulbs.

This circuit has more than one loop. When one light goes out, the others stay on. 

• closed circuit

• series circuit

• parallel circuit

• open circuit

A series circuit has ____ path(s) that the electric current can take.

• One

• Two

• Three

• Four

This is an example of a _______ circuit

• open

• series

• parallel

• switch

If bulb 1 burns out, what will occur?

• bulbs 2 and 3 will go out

• bulbs 2 and 3 receive more volts

• bulbs 2 and 3 will stay lit

• nothing will happen

Does this diagram represent a series or parallel circuit?

• series circuit

• parallel circuit

The picture shows an electrical circuit. This circuit is a series circuit because: 

• It has 3 light bulbs.

• The same current flows through all three light bulbs.

• It uses a single battery.

• The electrical current is divided between the three light bulbs.

Label which diagram is a series circuit and which is a parallel circuit.

a

b

series circuit

parallel

What will happen if one light bulb is removed from this circuit?

• The other bulbs will go out.

• The other bulbs will stay on

• The other bulbs will get dimmer.

• The battery will become stronger.

When you remove a bulb from a three bulb circuit, and the other two bulbs go off, then the bulbs must have been connected in __________.

• parallel

• series

• open

• closed