What+is+an+electric+circuit+and+what+are+the+different+types?

//by Krishan G //
 * WHAT IS AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT AND WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES **

An electric circuit is an electric current that flows continuously. It is formed with the components consisting of conductors, such as wires, load element(s), such as a light bulb or a fan, and a power source, such as a battery. In order for an electric circuit to function properly, an electric circuit needs a source of power, conductors, load elements, conductors, and insulators. There are three different types of electric circuits. There is the series circuit, connecting load together is a series circuit, in the series circuit the electric current of each load in the circuit will be the same, but it will not be as powerful. There is also a parallel circuit. A parallel circuit is when the load elements are connected in just the right way so that the voltage in each is the same. Another type of circuit is a combination of the series and parallel circuits. A combination of both series and parallel circuits is a circuit with the laws of both parallel and series circuits. This circuit both lowers the voltage, and evenly distributes the electricity. Below is a picture of a power source giving off power to many load elements.



Figure 1: Complete Electric Circuit

Figure 2: Incomplete Circuit (The light bulb is not lit up)

Insulators protect us from the harmful electric current flowing through a wire. Insulators are usually rubber, and rubber does not conduct electricity, which is why it is not a conductor, and because rubber insulates a conductor, it is an insulator. Insulators keep the electricity in the conductor, where it belongs.
 * Insulators **

Figure 3: Wires with and without insulators. A battery is a source of power. A battery is a marvelous tool to use in an electric circuit. The battery contains electrons, which, through conductors, gets passed on to the load elements in a circuit, and then the electric current flows back to the battery, where it originally came from, and then the battery keeps giving off power to the devices. Figure 4: A triple A battery.
 * Batteries **

Electric Current: Electrons moving in a path. Conductors: Items that can conduct electricity. Load Element(s): Devices that are powered by the electrons. Voltage: The measure of electricity. Insulator: An item that does not conduct electricity. Champagne, et al. Holt Science and Technology Electricity and Magnetism. Orlando, 2007. Print.
 * Glossary **
 * Citations **

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">"electric circuit." Britannica Elementary Encyclopedia. Encyclopædia Britannica Online <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">School Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2012. Web. 12 Sept. 2012. <http://school.eb.com/all/elementary/article?articleId=443114>.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">electric circuit: basic electric circuit, with switch, battery, and lamp. Photograph. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 12 Sept. 2012. <http://school.eb.com/eb/art-100726>.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">"electric circuit." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2012. Web. 12 Sept. 2012.<http://school.eb.com/eb/article-9032272>.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lafferty, Peter. Macmillan Revised Encyclopedia Of Science, Matter, and Technology. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 1997. Print.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ray and Elodia. “What Exactly IS An Electric Circuit.” All-You-Need-Is-solar.com. SBI, 2012. Web. 9/27/2012.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Scherz, Paul. Practical Electronics For Inventors. New York: McGraw Hill, 2000. Print.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Staffordshire University. “Introduction To Circuits.” Hyperstaffs. Hyperstaffs, 2012. Web. 9/27/2012.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Stutz, Michael. “Electric Circuits.” All About Circuits. Michael Stutz, 2000. Web. 9/27/2012.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sullivan, Kevin. “Electrical Circuits.” Autoshop101. Kevin Sullivan, 2012. Web. 9/27/2012.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Watkiss, Stewart. “Beginners guide to electronic circuits and circuit design.” //Penguin Tutor.// The Penguin Tutor, 2012. Web. 9/27/2012.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Physic Classroom. “What is an electric circuit?” //The Physics Classroom.// comPADRE, 2012. Web. 9/27/2012.