We interact with circuits very frequently whether that be in lamps, kettles, or in the electronic device you’re using to read this article on!
Thus, many people know quite a few things about circuits. Read on for some facts that may surprise you!
We need to introduce some key concepts first.
What is a current?
We are investigating current in a series circuit so, firstly, what is current?
In this context, current is electric. An electrical current is the flow of electric charge in any circuit.
What is it measured in?
It is measured in amperes (A), which are also called amps. It is measured using an ammeter - a component that you place in series with the circuit that you want to find the current of.
What is a series circuit?
Now that we know what a current is, we need to understand the second part of our main question. A series circuit is a circuit in which resistors are arranged in a chain. Series circuits have no branches, so the current can only flow in one path.
What do simple circuits look like?
Here is a diagram of a simple circuit with a light bulb (sometimes called a filament lamp).
What does this mean?
In a circuit, the electric current flows from the negative end of the cell or battery to the positive end. This is important since this is the current that is passed onto components, causing its elements such as the light bulb to light up. You may already know that the electrical energy stored inside the current is transferred to light and thermal energy in a light bulb.
Logically, if electric current is transferred to components along the way, when the negative electrons (that carry charge) return to the positive end of a cell/battery, they are carrying less energy than they began with.
Does current flow in a pattern in series circuits?
To answer this question, current never runs out in a circuit. If you use your ammeter to measure the amps of current in a circuit, it will be the same regardless of which point you measure it from. The current is the same all the way round a circuit.
By: Hemlata Pant
Sources:
“GCSE Science Revision Physics ‘Current in Series Circuits.’” YouTube, uploaded by Freesciencelessons, 8 June 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEBfn4ndQWI.
“Series and Parallel Circuits.” Physics.Bu.Edu,
physics.bu.edu/py106/notes/Circuits.html#:%7E:text=A%20series%20circuit%20is%20a,the%20same%20through%20each%20resistor.&text=With%20a%2010%20V%20battery,resistor%20would%20be%200.5%20A. Accessed 13 Aug. 2020.
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