Competency #8

Answer and Explanation

Draw picture of a 2-bulb parallel circuit and a 2-bulb series circuit and explain what would happen if one of the wires were accidentally broken on each.

Answer:

Parallel Circuit Series Circuit

Parallel Circuit

If wires A or F are broken, both bulbs will go out. However, if wires B, C, D, or E are broken, only one of the bulbs will go out, as there will still be a continuous path for electrons to flow out of the battery, through the bulb, and back to the positive battery terminal.

Series Circuit

If wires A, B, or C are broken, both bulbs will go out, since there will not be a continuous path from the negative terminal to the positive terminal of the battery.

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