Components in series & parallel circuits

Question 1

current is conserved

Answer 1

the amount of current flowing into the junction is equal to the amount of current flowing out of it

Question 2

series circuit

Answer 2

a string of two or more components connected in a loop

Question 3

advantages and disadvantages of series ciruits

Answer 3

ADVANTAGES:
- all components are controlled by a single switch
- fewer wires are required

DISADVANTAGES:
- components cannot be controller separately
- if one component breaks they will all stop working

Question 4

parallel circuits

Answer 4

consists of two or more components attached across different branches

Question 5

advantages and disadvantages of parallel circuits

Answer 5

ADVANTAGES
- components can be controlled separately, using their own switches
- if one component breaks, the rest continue to function

DISADVANTAGES
- more wires involved, more complicated to set up
- all components have the same voltage as the supply, so harder to control if components need to have diff voltages

Question 6

ammeter

Answer 6

measures current through component

Question 7

voltmeter

Answer 7

measures voltage across the component

Question 8

variable resistor

Answer 8

varies the current through the circuit

Question 9

thermistor

Answer 9

a temperature/dependent resistor

Question 10

LDRs

Answer 10

a light-dependent resistor

changes dependent on light intensity