SERIES AND PARALLEL CIRCUITS

Electrical components can be connected together in two basic ways: in series or in parallel. In both types of circuits, several electrical components are connected together. In a series circuit, the current has only one electrica lpath to follow. The current flows through each of the components, one after another, in a straight line, and remains the same through all of the series components.

In contrast, in a parallel circuit, the current has two or more electrical paths to follow. The electrons flow from the negative battery terminal, branch out into the two or more electrical paths, flow through all the components in the circuit, and return to the positive battery terminal. The current “splits” among the parallel components, and adds together to form  the total current flowing through  the parallel combination.

When a string of lights is connected in a series arrangement, if one light bulb is removed or burns out, the entire string will fail to light.

When light bulbs are connected in a parallel arrangement, if one light bulb is removed or burns out, the