Circuit And Symbols Worksheet Answers

Circuit Symbols and Circuit Diagrams

Thus far, this unit of The Physics Classroom tutorial has focused on the primal ingredients of an electric excursion and upon the concepts of electric potential difference, current and resistance. Conceptual meaning of terms have been introduced and practical to unproblematic circuits. Mathematical relationships between electrical quantities have been discussed and their apply in solving problems has been modeled. Lesson 4 will focus on the means by which two or more electrical devices can exist connected to course an electric circuit. Our discussion will progress from unproblematic circuits to mildly complex circuits. Former principles of electrical potential difference, current and resistance will be applied to these complex circuits and the same mathematical formulas volition be used to clarify them.

Electric circuits, whether uncomplicated or complex, can be described in a diverseness of ways. An electric excursion is commonly described with mere words. Saying something like "A calorie-free bulb is connected to a D-prison cell" is a sufficient corporeality of words to describe a simple circuit. On many occasions in Lessons 1 through 3, words take been used to draw unproblematic circuits. Upon hearing (or reading) the words, a person grows accepted to quickly picturing the circuit in their mind. But another means of describing a circuit is to but draw it. Such drawings provide a quicker mental picture of the actual excursion. Excursion drawings like the ane below have been used many times in Lessons 1 through 3.

Describing Circuits with Words

"A circuit contains a light seedling and a 1.v-Volt D-cell."

Describing Circuits with Drawings

A final means of describing an electric circuit is by utilize of conventional circuit symbols to provide a schematic diagram of the circuit and its components. Some circuit symbols used in schematic diagrams are shown beneath.

A single prison cell or other ability source is represented by a long and a brusk parallel line. A drove of cells or battery is represented past a collection of long and short parallel lines. In both cases, the long line is representative of the positive last of the energy source and the short line represents the negative final. A straight line is used to represent a connecting wire between any 2 components of the circuit. An electrical device that offers resistance to the menses of accuse is generically referred to as a resistor and is represented by a zigzag line. An open switch is generally represented by providing a break in a straight line past lifting a portion of the line upward at a diagonal. These circuit symbols will exist oftentimes used throughout the remainder of Lesson 4 every bit electrical circuits are represented by schematic diagrams. It will exist important to either memorize these symbols or to refer to this curt listing frequently until you become accepted to their use.

As an illustration of the utilize of electrical symbols in schematic diagrams, consider the following two examples.

Example 1:

Description with Words: Three D-cells are placed in a battery pack to power a circuit containing three light bulbs.

Using the verbal description, one can larn a mental picture of the circuit being described. This verbal description tin so be represented past a drawing of three cells and three light bulbs connected past wires. Finally, the circuit symbols presented above can be used to represent the aforementioned circuit. Note that three sets of long and short parallel lines take been used to represent the battery pack with its three D-cells. And notation that each light bulb is represented by its own individual resistor symbol. Straight lines have been used to connect the two terminals of the battery to the resistors and the resistors to each other.

The in a higher place circuits presumed that the three calorie-free bulbs were continued in such a way that the accuse flowing through the circuit would pass through each i of the three light bulbs in sequent fashion. The path of a positive examination charge leaving the positive last of the battery and traversing the external excursion would involve a passage through each one of the three connected calorie-free bulbs before returning to the negative terminal of the bombardment. But is this the only way that 3 lite bulbs can be connected? Do they take to exist connected in sequent mode as shown higher up? Absolutely non! In fact, case 2 below contains the same verbal description with the drawing and the schematic diagrams being fatigued differently.

Example 2:

Description with Words: 3 D-cells are placed in a bombardment pack to ability a circuit containing three light bulbs.

Using the verbal clarification, one can acquire a mental picture of the circuit beingness described. Just this time, the connections of calorie-free bulbs is washed in a manner such that there is a betoken on the circuit where the wires co-operative off from each other. The branching location is referred to as a node . Each light bulb is placed in its own divide co-operative. These branch wires eventually connect to each other to form a second node. A single wire is used to connect this 2d node to the negative terminal of the bombardment.

These two examples illustrate the 2 mutual types of connections made in electrical circuits. When two or more resistors are present in a circuit, they can be connected in series or in parallel. The remainder of Lesson four will be devoted to a study of these ii types of connections and the effect that they have upon electrical quantities such as electric current, resistance and electrical potential. The next part of Lesson 4 volition introduce the distinction between serial and parallel connections.

Check Your Understanding

1. Employ circuit symbols to construct schematic diagrams for the following circuits:

a. A single cell, light bulb and switch are placed together in a excursion such that the switch can be opened and closed to turn the light seedling on.

b. A three-pack of D-cells is placed in a excursion to ability a flashlight bulb.

ii. Utilize the concept of conventional current to draw an unbroken line on the schematic diagram at the right that indicates the direction of the conventional current. Identify an arrowhead on your unbroken line.