Circuit Basics You've probably heard these terms before.

You knew they had something to do with electricity, but maybe you weren't sure quite sure how. Just as your heart produces the pressure to make blood circulate, a battery or generator produces the pressure or force to push electrons around a circuit. Voltage is the force and is measured in volts (V). A typical ashlight battery produces 1.5V, and the standard household electrical voltage is 110V or 220V. Types of Circuits A closed circuit has a complete path for current to ow. An open circuit doesn't, which means that it's not functional. If this is your rst exposure to circuits, you might think that when a circuit is open, it's like an open door or gate that current can ow through. And when it's closed, it's like a shut door that current can't ow through. Actually, it's just the opposite, so it might take awhile to get used to this concept. A short circuit is a low-resistance path, usually made unintentionally, that bypasses part of a circuit. This can happen when two bare wires in a circuit touch each other. The part of the circuit bypassed by the short circuit ceases to function, and a large amount of current could start to ow. This can generate a lot of heat in the wires and cause a re. As a safety measure, fuses and circuit breakers automatically open the circuit when there is an excessive current. In a series circuit, the same current ows through all the components. The total voltage across the circuit is the sum of the voltages across each component, and the total resistance is the sum of the resistances of each component. In this circuit, V = V1 + V2 + V3 and R = R1 + R2 + R3. An example of a series circuit is a string of Christmas lights. If any one of the bulbs is missing or burned out, no current will ow and none of the lights will go on. Parallel circuits are like the smaller blood vessels that branch off from an artery and then connect to a vein to return blood to the heart. Now think of two wires, each representing an artery and a vein, with some smaller wires connected between them. These smaller wires will have the same voltage applied to them, but different amounts of current owing through them depending on the resistance of the individual wires. An example of a parallel circuit is the wiring system of a house. A single electric power source supplies all the lights and appliances with the same voltage. If one of the lights burns out, current can still ow through the rest of the lights and appliances. However, if there is a short circuit, the voltage drops to almost zero, and the entire system goes down. You may have heard the term chip, especially when the subject of computer hardware comes up. A chip is a tiny piece of silicon, usually around one centimeter square. A chip may be a single transistor (a piece of silicon that amplies electrical signals or serves as an on/off switch in computer applications).

Martin Amy

Tuesday, 8 October, 2013 8:56:12 AM Hong Kong Standard Time

The most important elements in an electronic circuit are the transistors. Diodes are tiny chips of silicon that act as valves to allow current ow in only one direction. Other electronic components are passive elements like resistors and capacitors. Resistors offer a specied amount of resistance to current, and capacitors store electric charge. The third basic passive circuit element is the inductor, which stores energy in the form of a magnetic eld. Microelectronic circuits very rarely use inductors, but they are common in larger power circuits.

Task 1. Highlight the most important notes for you in this article. Task 2. Answer the following questions in full Q.What is a resistor? A. Resistors offer a specied amount of resistance to current Q.What is a capacitor? A.Capacitors store electric charge Q.What is circuit? A.A circuit is the path that the electricity runs through. It has 5 forms. An open circuit, closed circuit, parallel circuit, series, and a short circuit. A closed circuit, has a complete circuit for the electricity to ow, but a open circuit doesnt which means its not functional. A parallel circuit, is when two small wires connect to two other small wire, to create something big. A sort circuit, A short circuit is a low-resistance path, usually made unintentionally, that bypasses part of a circuit. This can happen when two bare wires in a circuit touch each other. A series circuit, is a formed when one volt is gone, non of the others will work. Q.What is volt? A.A Volt is the measurement for the voltage Task 3 Identify the following types of circuit and why

This circuit is series circuit because it has 3 components.

Martin Amy

Tuesday, 8 October, 2013 8:56:12 AM Hong Kong Standard Time

This circuit is a a closed circuit This circuit is an open circuit because the switches are open, stopping the electricity from running through.

Martin Amy

Tuesday, 8 October, 2013 8:56:12 AM Hong Kong Standard Time