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| [[Category:Done 2015-09-06]] | | #REDIRECT [[electric circuit]] |
| [[File:Closed ciruit example.jpg|thumb|right|Figure 1: An example of a closed circuit (click to enlarge).<ref name=C>University of Colorado (2011). Circuit Construction Kit (DC Only), Virtual Lab [Online]. Available http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/circuit-construction-kit-dc-virtual-lab</ref>]]
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| <onlyinclude>An '''electric circuit''' is a connection of components that can conduct [[current]]. Simple electrical circuits have conductors (usually [[wire]]s), a component that supplies [[power]] (like a [[battery]] or [[wall plug]]) and a component that absorbs power called the load. A [[light bulb]] would be an example of a load and there must always be a return path - a way for the electrons to come back to the power source from the load.</onlyinclude> Every circuit is designed to deliver power to one or more loads. For example, in a boombox the power goes to the speakers. In the same way, in a lamp the power goes to the light bulb. The circuit allows the [[charge]] to leave from one side of the power supply and come back on the other side of the power supply.
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| Circuits can be in [[Series circuit|series]], [[Parallel circuit|parallel]] or a combination of the two referred to as a series-parallel circuit.<ref name=A>R.T. Paynter, “Basic Electric Components and Meters,” in ''Introduction to Electricity'', 1rst ed. NJ: Prentice-Hall, 2011, ch. 4, sec. 4.3, pp. 155-160.</ref> To read more on these differing circuit layouts, visit: [[series circuit]] and [[parallel circuit]].
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| In Figure 1, the circuit is closed (the charge can leave from the supply, go through the [[light]] bulb and come back to the supply) and the light bulb acts as the load. Notice that the [[voltmeter]] reading displays 0 [[volt|V]] because there is 0 [[voltage|voltage drop]] across the [[switch]].<ref name=C />
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| ==Open circuit==
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| [[File:Open circuit example.jpg|thumb|right|Figure 2: An example of a open circuit (click to enlarge).<ref name=C>University of Colorado (2011). Circuit Construction Kit (DC Only), Virtual Lab [Online]. Available http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/circuit-construction-kit-dc-virtual-lab</ref>]]
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| An open circuit (like the one in Figure 2) has a physical break in the [[conduction]] path where [[current]] drops to 0 and [[resistance]] becomes infinite (far too high for an [[Multimeter#Ohmmeter|ohmmeter]] to measure). [[Voltage]] however can be measured because the [[Multimeter#Voltmeter|voltmeter]] connects across the open terminal.<ref name=B>R.T. Paynter, “Basic Electric Components and Meters,” in ''Introduction to Electricity'', 1rst ed. NJ: Prentice-Hall, 2011, ch. 4, sec. 4.4, pp. 160-162.</ref> Note the open circuit is not a true circuit because the charge from one side of the power supply can't leave and come back to the other side of the power supply.
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| In Figure 2, the switch is lifted therefore opening the circuit meaning the current does not have a complete path and the light bulb does not function. The voltmeter can still be connected and displays a reading of 18 [[volt]]s due to the presence of the two 9 V batteries in [[Series circuit|series]].<ref name=C />
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| ==Short circuit==
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| [[File:Short circuit example.jpg|thumb|left|Figure 3. An example of a short circuit, (click to enlarge).<ref name=C>University of Colorado (2011). Circuit Construction Kit (DC Only), Virtual Lab [Online]. Available http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/circuit-construction-kit-dc-virtual-lab</ref>.]]
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| A short circuit (shown in Figure 3) is an unintentional low [[resistance]] connection between two or more points in a circuit. Because current increases as the resistance drops (given by [[Ohm's law]]), this will result in a large amount of current flowing through the "short." This higher current, if it is greater than the [[wire gauge]] can safely handle, has the potential to burn the current path due to high [[temperature]]s, and could cause a fire. This results in ''shorting'' the circuit.<ref name=B /> Safety devices such as [[fuse]]s and [[circuit breaker]]s are used in the case of a short circuit to prevent the [[shock hazard]]s and damage associated with it.
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| In Figure 3, a short circuit is present. Although some of the current still goes through the light bulb, the path bypassing the light bulb offers the lowest resistance for the circuit. This lower resistance equates to a significantly larger current. This high amount of current surpasses the current rating of the wire thereby destroying the switch and burning part of the current path.<ref name=C />
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| ==References==
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| {{reflist}}
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| [[Category:Uploaded]]
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| [[category: Mark edit]] | |
