Circuit Design

© 2011 Project Lead The Way, Inc.Magic of Electrons

Circuit Design

• What Is a Circuit?• Circuit Diagrams• Series Circuits• Parallel Circuits• Combination Circuits

This presentation is intended to be used with Project 6.2.1 Circuit Design.

What Is a Circuit?

A system of conductors and components forming a complete path for an electric current, consisting of three parts:

• Source of Electrons• Pathway• Load Device

What Is a Circuit?

A system of conductors and components forming a complete path for an electric current.

If the path is broken anywhere in the circuit, current stops flowing.

How many ways could the path be broken in the image below?

Circuit Diagrams•A drawing that traces the path that electron flow will take in an electronic circuit•Electronic components and functions are represented by symbols.

Draw a map from the school to your house or some other destination.

•How did you draw roads, buildings, the school?

•What other symbols did you create?

In an electronic circuit diagram, the roads are like wires. The buildings, houses, etc. are like components.

Circuit Diagrams

•A drawing that traces the path that electron flow will take in an electronic circuit•Electronic components and functions are represented by symbols.

Lamp

Battery

Switch

Series CircuitsA circuit that contains only one path for current flow

If a component is removed, the path is opened and current cannot flow to any components.

Series CircuitsA circuit that contains only one path for current flow

If the path is open anywhere in the circuit, current stops flowing to all components.

Series CircuitsA circuit that contains only one path for current flow

Sketch a schematic diagram of this circuit in your engineering notebook.

Parallel CircuitsA circuit that contains more than one path for current flow

If a component is removed, then it is possible for the current to take another path to reach other components.

Parallel CircuitsA circuit that contains more than one path for current flow

Sketch a schematic diagram of this circuit in your engineering notebook.

Combination CircuitsContain both series and parallel arrangements

What would happen if you removed light 1? light 2? light 3?

1

2 3

Combination Circuits

Sketch a schematic diagram of this circuit in your engineering notebook.

Your Turn!

• Build the three circuits just drawn in your binder.

• Use the 6 volt side of the power supply.• Before disassembling your circuit, be sure

to answer all questions, and have your instructor verify your work.

Image Resources

Microsoft, Inc. (2008). Clip Art. Retrieved November 20, 2008, from http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/clipart/default.aspx