Table of Contents
electric circuit, path for transmitting electric current. An electric circuit includes a device that gives energy to the charged particles constituting the current, such as a battery or a generator; devices that use current, such as lamps, electric motors, or computers; and the connecting wires or transmission lines.
What are circuits and what is their purpose?
A circuit is a closed loop that electrons can travel in. A source of electricity, such as a battery, provides electrical energy in the circuit. Unless the circuit is complete, that is, making a full circle back to the electrical source, no electrons will move.
Why is a circuit important?
The reason we want to build circuits is to make electricity do useful things for us. The way we do that is by putting things in the circuit that use the current flow to light up, make noise, run programs, etc.
Where are electronic circuits used?
Such digital integrated circuits are ubiquitous in modern electronic devices, such as calculators, mobile phone handsets, and computers.
What is a circuit simple definition?
1) In electronics, a circuit is a path between two or more points along which an electrical current can be carried. Unless otherwise qualified, a circuit is a physical path, consisting of one or more wires (or wireless paths) and possibly intermediate switching points.
What are the 4 main parts of a circuit?
Every electric circuit, regardless of where it is or how large or small it is, has four basic parts: an energy source (AC or DC), a conductor (wire), an electrical load (device), and at least one controller (switch). Visualize what happens when you switch on a room light.
Why circuit is a system?
A circuit is a complete pathway for electricity. The circuit must be closed in order for a device to work, such as a bulb which lights up. We can say that an electric circuit is a closed system which transfers electrical energy. A circuit is made up of various components, which we will look at in more detail.
What do you need in a circuit?
Every circuit is comprised of three major components: a conductive “path,” such as wire, or printed etches on a circuit board; a “source” of electrical power, such as a battery or household wall outlet, and, a “load” that needs electrical power to operate, such as a lamp.
How does electricity affect our lives?
Electricity is an essential part of modern life and important to the U.S. economy. People use electricity for lighting, heating, cooling, and refrigeration and for operating appliances, computers, electronics, machinery, and public transportation systems.
What is a circuit connection?
An electric circuit is an unbroken path along which an electric current exists and/or is able to flow. Two general circuit classifications are series and parallel. The elements of a series circuit are connected end to end; the same current flows through its parts one after another.
How do computer circuits work?
Computer circuits are binary in concept, having only two possible states. They use on-off switches (transistors) that are electrically opened and closed in nanoseconds and picoseconds (billionths and trillionths of a second). A computer’s speed of operation depends on the design of its circuitry.
What are some applications of a series circuit in everyday life?
Series circuits are used in areas where the operation of the circuit is required to be linear. Water heaters use a series circuit. Freezers and refrigerators both use series circuits. Lamps also operate on a series circuit.
What is an example of circuit?
The definition of a circuit is a closed path or a line forming a boundary. An example of circuit is the wires made up of conductors and other components that allow for electricity to travel on wires. An example of circuit is the path taken by a judge who officates at several courts.
What are the 3 types of circuits?
There are three basic types of circuits: Series, Parallel, and Series-Parallel. Individual electrical circuits normally combine one or more resistance or load devices.
What does circuit mean in law?
A territorial or geographical division of a country or state. A circuit is the judicial territory over which a court has the jurisdiction to hear cases.
What is the component of a circuit?
An electric circuit contains components like batteries, switches, bulbs, resistors, and capacitors, connected in a continuous loop. This allows electricity to flow and power the components. Many different components can be used in a circuit.
What makes a complete circuit?
A complete circuit is an uninterrupted path for electrons to flow from an energy source (i.e. battery or household power), through a device and back to the source. If we break that path, the flow of electrons stops, and we no longer get energy from our circuit, and the device no longer has power.
What are the most common circuit symbols?
Below is an overview of the most used symbols in circuit diagrams. Battery. The symbol for a battery is shown below. Resistor. The schematic symbol of the resistor are drawn in two different ways. Potentiometer. Schematic Symbols of a Transistor. Integrated Circuit. Logic Gates. Inductor. Transformer.
How do circuits work physics?
A simple circuit is one in which there is a single voltage source and a single resistance. One statement of Ohm’s law gives the relationship between current I, voltage V, and resistance R in a simple circuit to be I=VR I = V R . Resistance has units of ohms (Ω), related to volts and amperes by 1 Ω = 1 V/A.
Why is a complete circuit needed for current to flow?
The wires in a circuit carry the electric current to various parts of an electrical or electronic system. For electrons to do their job in producing light, there must be a complete circuit so they can flow through the light bulb and then back out.
How does electricity flow through a light bulb?
Light bulbs have a very simple structure. At the base, they have two metal contacts, which connect to the ends of an electrical circuit. When the bulb is hooked up to a power supply, an electric current flows from one contact to the other, through the wires and the filament.
