Series vs. Parallel Circuits - Questions 3 Help

Wiring two or more devices together in a circuit can be done in a variety of ways. The two most common ways are to wire the devices in a series circuit or as a parallel circuit. Whether the devices are in a series or a parallel arrangement affects the properties that the circuit would exhibit.

When two or more devices are wired in series, they are arranged such that whatever charge passes through one bulb will also pass through the other bulb. There are no branching locations where a wire divides up into two or more possible pathways. Instead there is a single pathway by which a charge can pass from the + to the - terminal of the battery. If a bulb in that pathway burns out or is unscrewed from its socket, then there is an opening in the only avaialable pathway. Consequently, charge will cease to flow through the pathway and none of the bulbs will remain lit.

Devices wired in parallel are quite different. Parallel arrangments of light bulbs allow charge multiple pathways by which it can traverse an entire loop from the + to the - terminal fo the battery. A wire attached to the + terminal will eventually reach a branching location or node, where that one wire divides up into two or more pathways. Each pathway or parallel branch includes a light bulb. If a bulb in one of the three branches burns out or is unscrewed from its socket, then that branch will become unoperational. But since the other branches operate independently, any bulb in the other branches will continue to remain lit.