Competency #8
Answer and Explanation
The circuit must be a series circuit. In a series circuit there is one path through the circuit that all the elements are connected to. If the circuit gets disrupted at any point, there is no longer a path for electrons to flow through, so current flow stops. Thus nothing lights. When the bulb was broken, electrons could no longer flow from point A to point B.
Before (circuit lights) |
After (one bulb broken) |
 |
 |
It is worth noting, that while most Christmas lights made today are wired in series, they do not suffer from the same shortcoming due to the use of a shunt within each bulb.
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