Electric Circuits
Terms & Objectives
The Standards that Relate to Chapter 34 - Electric Current are:
- The Properties of Matter
- P.1.4 Employ correct units in describing common physical quantities.
- The Nature of Electricity & Magnetism
- P.1.18 Explain the concepts of ... electric current, electric potential, electric field ... Use the definitions of .... the ampere, the volt...
- P.1.19 Analyze simple arrangements of electrical components in series and parallel circuits. Know that any resistive element in a DC circuit dissipates energy, which heats the resistor.
New Terms:
circuit
|
series circuit
|
parallel circuit
|
schematic diagram
|
overloading
|
compound circuit
|
Objectives:
When you finish your study of electric circuits you should be able
to:
Note: The number in parentheses is a
(chapter:section) in the text.
- Circuits
- define "electric circuit." (35.1)
- distinguish between a series, parallel, and compound
circuits.(35.2)
- Recognize the common electrical symbols for a battery, a meter, a switch, a ground, and a resistance. (35.5)
- Series Circuits:
- state that a series circuit provides a single conducting
path for charges.(35.1)
- state what happens to other devices in a series circuit
when one device fails.(35.3)
- state that the current must be the same in all parts of a
series circuit. (35.3)
- state that the total voltage in a series circuit is the sum
of the voltages across the separate components. (35.3)
- calculate the equivalent (total) resistance in a series
circuit as the sum of the individual resistances. (35.3)
- apply Ohm's Law to a series circuit. (35.3)
- Parallel Circuits:
- state that the voltage is the same across each device in a
parallel circuit. (35.4)
- state what happens to other devices in a parallel circuit
when one device fails.(35.4)
- apply Ohm's Law separately to each branch of a parallel
circuit.(35.4)
- calculate the total current as the sum of the branch
currents. (35.4)
- Resistance
- state that the equivalent (total) resistance of a
parallel circuit decreases as the number of branches
increases.(35.7)
- calculate the equivalent (total) resistance of two equal
resistances connected in parallel. (35.6)
- estimate the equivalent (total) resistance of two
unequal resistances connected in parallel.(35.6)
- Overloading
- state that electrical devices in our homes are connected in
parallel. (35.7)
- state that the total current in a parallel circuit
increases as each additional device is added to the circuit.
(35.7)
- state that the total energy supplied to a parallel circuit
increases as each additional device is added to the circuit.
(35.7)
- tell what a short circuit is, and why it is dangerous.
(35.7)
- discuss the use and operation of fuses and circuit
breakers. (35.7)
- Compound Circuits
- calculate the equivalent (total) resistance of resistors in
a compound circuit. (35.6)
- apply Ohm's Law to find the total current in a compound
circuit. (35.6)
- apply Ohm's Law to each individual component of a compound
circuit. (35.6)
last update April
14, 2008 by JL
Stanbrough