Series and parallel circuit

SERIES CIRCUITS
• A series circuit is a circuit that provides only one path along which
a current can flow.
• The components are connected one after the other in a series
circuit.
• The amount of current is the same through each part or component
in the circuit.
• Every time a resistor is added in series, the overall current in the
circuit decreases and the total resistance increases.
• A light bulb is an example of a resistor because it resists the flow of
charge.
• Cells can also be connected in series. The positive terminal of one
cell is connected
• to the negative terminal of the following cell.
• An advantage of light bulbs in series is that one switch switches on
all the light bulbs.
• A disadvantage is that, if one bulb burns out, all the light bulbs go
out. The more light bulbs that are connected in series, the dimmer
they all become.
TASK (ACTIVITY )
Rewrite the following paragraph and fill in the missing words.

In a series circuit there is _____ path that the current can follow. The
current through the cells is _____ as the current that flows through the
light bulbs. When more light bulbs are connected in series, the _____
will increase and the _____ will decrease. This is because a light bulb
acts as a _____ that _____ the flow of current. When cells are
connected in series, the _____ terminal of one cell is connected to the
_____ terminal of the _____ cell. More cells connected in series _____
the current in a circuit.

PARALLEL CIRCUITS
1. A parallel circuit provides two or more pathways for the current
passing through it.
2. With more paths that the current can take, the total resistance of the
circuit will decrease.
3. The overall current increases when more resistors are added in
parallel.
4. The total current equals the sum of the currents that flow through
each branch of the parallel circuit.
5. There are many advantages of parallel circuits. With light bulbs in
parallel, it is possible to switch on one bulb at a time. The brightness of
the light bulbs stays the same as more light bulbs are connected in
parallel. If one bulb burns out, the remaining bulbs will still shine.
6. A disadvantage of light bulbs in parallel is that the total current
produced by the battery increases. The battery will therefore not last as
long.
SERIES
1. Components are arranged one after
the other.
2. Current has a single path to flow
through.
3. The same amount of current flows
through all the components
4. If any one of the components fail, the
circuit breaks. No electricity flows
through the circuit. If one bulb fails, the
rest of the circuit breaks
5. If more resistors are added, current
decreases.
PARALLEL
1. components are arranged parallel
with each other
2. The is more than one path for the
current o flow
3. Different current flows through each
component.
4 Even if a bulb fails to glow, the circuit
does not break completely, electricity
flows through other paths. So other
bulbs glow
5. . If more resistors are added, current
increases.