How Does an Electric Circuit Work?

Electricity is a necessary part of modern life and a requirement for almost everything from watching TV to heating and cooling homes. An electric circuit is a continuous path that allows the electrical current to flow from a source of power along a loop and then back to the source. It can be thousands of miles long or as simple as a light bulb, battery and some copper wire.

Parts of an Electrical Circuit

Four main parts make up a basic electric circuit. They are a power source, a load, connectors and a control device. The power source can be something as simple as a battery or as powerful as a generator. Its job is to create the electricity. The load is the device that is being powered such as a light bulb. The connectors are the wires, which as the name implies, connect the different parts of the circuit. The final part of an electrical circuit is a control device. This can be a switch or fuse that opens and closes the circuit.

Series and Parallel Circuits

These are the two primary types of circuits. In a series circuit, the components are connected end to end and the electrical current flows through all of them. Every component must be working in order to complete the circuit. A parallel circuit is wired so that the elements are each independently connected to the power source. This allows the operation of each device by itself.

Open and Closed Circuits

A closed circuit is a complete path that allows the current to flow. An open circuit is not functional and does not allow the current to flow. Every time you flip a light switch, you are opening and closing an electrical circuit.