sara persson 11/30/10 period 2 circuits, resistance, lightning, & ground

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Circuits, Resistance, Lightning, & Ground

Definitions

(Electric) Circuit: Path that allows electricity to flow.Resistance: What slows the movement of electrons.Lightning: Natural electric discharge in the atmosphere.Ground: Conductor that is planted into the earth.Series Circuit: One path for electrons.Parallel Circuit: Multiple paths for electrons.

Electric Circuits

Electric circuits refer to circuits in general. A circuit allows a path of electricity to flow.

An example of electric circuits could be household wiring, or even lighting a light bulb.

There are two types of circuits. There is Series Circuits, and Parallel Circuits.

Series Circuit

Series Circuit only has one path for electricity to flow. If the wire for that path breaks, then the path is broken entirely, and the electricity may not flow.

An example of a Series Circuit would be four light bulbs connected with one wire to a battery. This is considered a Series Circuit because there is only one path, and if any part of that wire was to break, then none of the light bulbs would work.

Parallel Circuit

Parallel Circuits are when there are multiple paths for electricity to flow. If one of the wires break, it won’t be the entire thing that shuts off, but just a portion of the power source.

An example of a Parallel Circuit would be four light bulbs connected to a battery, each connected with their own wire. If you were to cut one of the wires, only the specific bulb connected to that wire would go out, rather than all of the bulbs.

Resistance

Resistance is what slows the movement of electrons in conductors and insulators.

Conductors have a high resistance, while insulators have a low resistance.

Ground

Ground refers to a conductor that is planted into the ground.

An example of Ground would be a lightning rod. Instead of lightning hitting your vulnerable house, it will instead travel to the lightning rod, and save from beginning a fire on or near your home.