Download Electric Circuits And Voltage

Electric Circuits
And Voltage
Lesson 6
Parts of an Electric Circuit
Every circuit essentially has 4 parts to it.
1. The source of electrical energy
◦
2.
This can range from a battery, to a
generation station.
Electrical Load
◦ Anything that converts electrical energy into
whatever form of energy needed. The load is
the reason that the electrical load exists
Parts of an Electric Circuit
3. Connectors
◦
Anything that conducts electricity, this can
include wires to anything that is metal.
4. Electric circuit control device
◦ A simple knife switch, thermostat or any other
device that can control the flow of electricity.
◦ When electricity can make a complete circuit it is
referred to as Closed Circuit
◦ When electricity cannot make a complete circuit
it is referred to as a Open Circuit
Electric Circuit Diagrams and
Symbols

There are set rules when drawing circuit
diagrams, doing this makes them universal
for anyone looking at them and it makes
them easier to read and follow. It also
allows only a few basic symbols to
represent many different types of
switches, loads and energy sources. The
drawings that follow these rules are called
Schematic Circuit Diagrams.
Electric Circuit Diagrams and
Symbols

All lines are drawn straight with right
angled corners for turns. All other parts
of the circuit follow the symbols shown
below.
Electric Circuit Diagrams and
Symbols

Conductor or wire
◦ To pass current very easily from one part of a
circuit to another.
Electric Circuit Diagrams and
Symbols

Cell-Supplies electrical energy
◦ The positive end is bigger than the negative
end.
Electric Circuit Diagrams and
Symbols

2 Cells
Electric Circuit Diagrams and
Symbols

DC Source- Electrical energy source
◦ DC = Direct current, always flows one way
Electric Circuit Diagrams and
Symbols
AC Source - Electrical energy source
 AC = Alternating current, continually
changing direction

Electric Circuit Diagrams and
Symbols

Ground –
◦ A connection to earth
Electric Circuit Diagrams and
Symbols

Switch - An on-off switch allows current
to flow only when it is in the closed (on)
position
Electric Circuit Diagrams and
Symbols

Lamp
◦ A transducer which converts electrical energy
to light
Electric Circuit Diagrams and
Symbols

Resistor
◦ A resistor restricts the flow of current,
Electric Circuit Diagrams and
Symbols

Ammeter
◦ -Device that measures current
A
Electric Circuit Diagrams and
Symbols
Voltmeter
 -Device that measures voltage

V
Electric Circuit Diagrams and
Symbols
Motor -electrical load that converts
electrical energy into movement
M
Electric Potential (Voltage)
Electric Potential (Voltage)

You cannot see current or voltage
directly. The example of water in a
pressurized pipe can help you understand
how to use these terms.

Voltage is the electrical force, or
"pressure", that causes current to flow in
a circuit. Take a look at the
diagram. Voltage would be the force that
is pushing the water (electrons) forward.
If the water pressure is increased, more
water will flow through the pipe with
more energy.

Voltage is a way to describe electric
energy. Some circuits have a high voltage.
Other circuits have a low voltage.Voltage
is measured in volts (V).You can
measure voltage using a voltmeter or a
multimeter.

A load converts electrical energy into
another form of energy.You can compare
this to the water flowing past a water
wheel. The wheel converts some of the
energy of the water into motion. The
water has more energy before the wheel
than after the wheel.

Voltage is also called potential
difference. When you measure voltage,
you measure the difference in electric
energy across the load in a circuit.

A voltmeter measures voltage across a
component of a circuit. If you are using a
multimeter to measure voltage, your
circuit diagram shows the multimeter as a
voltmeter.
V
Measuring voltage in a circuit
 You can use a voltmeter to measure
across different parts of a circuit.


activity
Try to make the circuit shown in the
diagram.
 What voltage does the circuit have?
