Circuit Design
Magic of Electrons
© 2011 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Circuit Design
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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 Circuits
A 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 Circuits
A 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 Circuits
A circuit that contains only one path for current flow
Sketch a schematic diagram of this circuit in your engineering notebook.
Parallel Circuits
A 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 Circuits
A circuit that contains more than one path for current flow
Sketch a schematic diagram of this circuit in your engineering notebook.
Combination Circuits
Contain both series and parallel arrangements
What would happen if you removed light 1? light 2? light 3?
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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