Science 5

Quarter 3 – Module 5: Series and Parallel Circuits

This module will help you determine the effects of changing the number or type of components in a
circuit. The module is divided into two lessons, namely:

 Lesson 1- Series Circuit

 Lesson 2- Parallel Circuit

Discussion: Lesson 1- Series Circuit

The word "electricity" is derived from the Greek word "elektron," which means "amber." Electricity is
thought to have been discovered in ancient Greece when someone rubbed a piece of amber and it
picked up light materials such as feathers and hair. Of course, this is possible due to the fact that friction
can generate electricity.

Static and current electricity are the two kinds of electricity. Static electricity is produced when
electrical charges build up on the surface of a material, usually as a result of friction or rubbing of
materials together. The electricity produced by the continuous flow of electrons is known as current
electricity.

Alessandro Volta, an Italian scientist, discovered current electricity. It is made up of moving electrons
that flow through electrical wires connected to lights, machines, or appliances to make these devices
work. Current electricity is the kind of electricity that we often use in many activities. It flows through a
complete circuit.

An electric circuit is a network that has a closed-loop, giving a return path for the current. There are two
types of circuits, namely: series circuit and parallel circuit.

As we go on with our discussion on series and parallel circuits, let us first go over some basic terms that
we need to familiarize with:

 Current – The flow of electrons. Electricity has work to do, and when the electrons are flowing around
a circuit, that's current at work.

 Circuit – A closed continuous path for electricity to flow. Composed of power source, connecting wires,
load, and switch.

 Resistance – The restriction or opposition to the flow of electric current. This is what electricity
encounters when it flows along with physical material.

 Voltage – It is the measure of work required to move a unit charge from one location to another,
against the force which tries to keep electric charges balanced. In the context of electrical power
sources, voltage is the amount of potential energy available (work to be done) per unit charge, to move
charges through a conductor.
 Parts of an Electric Circuit

A circuit has parts or components. These are the conductor, the source, and the load.

1. The conductor (ex. connecting wires) serves as the pathway for the electrical current to pass from the
source to the different parts/components in a circuit.

2. The source (ex. dry cell, battery) contains positive and negative electrons. It is the source of electrical
energy in the circuit.

3. The load (ex. bulb) determines if the electricity that flows in the circuit is closed or complete.

There are three kinds of electric circuits based on the connections:

1) series circuits,
2) parallel circuits,
and 3) combination circuits.

For our lesson, we will focus on the first two circuits.

A series circuit - is a circuit that allows electric current to flow through a single path. The available
electric current flows through each load but there is only one complete path.

If one bulb is loose or does not work, the circuit is open, and the current does not flow. The rest of the
bulbs will not light. The defective bulb has to be replaced, or the loose bulb should be screwed tight for
the current to flow again. Remember that current is a rate at which electric charge flows past a point in a
circuit.

For the devices in a series circuit to work, each device must work. If one goes out, they all go out.

Changing the number or type of components in a series circuit has an impact on the circuit's overall
performance. When it comes to how current and resistance operate in a series circuit, there is a
universal rule to remember: the more work (resistance) a series circuit does, the more its current will
decrease.

As you add more resistance to a circuit, like a few bulbs or even resistors, at that point the more work for
your power source or battery. Let's say you take the circuit presented above that had two light bulbs.
What do you think would happen in the event that you add another light bulb to this circuit? Will the
bulbs shine as bright? No. Once you plug in the third bulb, all light bulbs will get equally dim since you
have added more resistance to your circuit which decreases the flow of current. Adding another light
bulb in arrangement decreases the current since our battery now has more work to do.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Series Circuit

Advantages Disadvantages
 More power source (ex. batteries/ dry  Only one pathway for an electric current to
cells)can be added to increase the voltages flow through
 Does not require lots of wiring connections  When one bulb burns out, the other bulbs will
not function anymore.
 Increasing the number of loads, decreases the
current that passes through each bulb.

Directions: Read and understand the sentences well. Write True if the sentence is correct. Write False if
the statement is incorrect. Write your answers in your notebook/answer sheets.

1. An electrical circuit encompasses a closed-loop that gives a return way for the current.

2. A series circuit allows electric current to flow through a single path.

3. In a series circuit with many bulbs, when a bulb is spent, busted, or loosely connected, the other bulbs
will still light.

4. Current electricity is electricity that does not move.

5. In a simple electric circuit, the source of electricity is the bulb.

6. There are many wiring connections in a parallel circuit.

7. The electric current in the parallel circuit remains the same to all its paths.

8. One of the advantages of the parallel circuit is that the appliances or the bulbs operate independently.
9. If more bulbs will be added to the parallel circuit, the light of the bulbs will dim.

10. In a parallel circuit using a dry cell, all wires for the positive terminal should be connected to the
positive terminal of the dry cell.

Answer key:
Lesson 2: Parallel Circuit

Parallel wires carry energy from the power source to our homes. Lamps, flat irons, radios, television
sets, and electric fans are all wired in parallel. The circuit is closed or broken by the switch on each
appliance. Since the appliances are self-contained, this is advantageous. If one fails, the others will
continue to work. However, unlike in a series circuit, the voltage in a parallel circuit remains the same at
all points in a parallel circuit.

A parallel circuit - is a circuit that contains two or more paths for an electric current to flow through. The
electrical devices are connected in a branched manner making each one independent from all other
connections in the circuit.

Even if there are three bulbs, there are three complete circuits. None of them is affected by the others.
The addition of more bulbs to the set does not dim the light of the bulbs.

If an individual bulb in a parallel branch is unscrewed from its socket, there is still current in the overall
circuit and the other branches. In a three (3) bulb parallel circuit, removing the third bulb from its socket
has the effect of transforming the circuit from a three-bulb parallel circuit to a two-bulb parallel circuit.

All negative terminals are connected in a parallel connection using dry cells, and all positive terminals are
similarly connected. The bulb is then attached to the free ends. The circuit's total voltage is the same as
a single dry cell.

When you add more resistors to a parallel circuit, the total current increases while the overall resistance
decreases. When you add more light bulbs to your circuit, you'll need to draw more current to power
them all.
 Advantages and Disadvantages of Parallel Circuit

Advantages Disadvantages
 Two or more pathways for an electric current  Requires many wiring connections
to flow through
 When one bulb burns out, the other bulbs will
continue to glow.
 Individual devices can be controlled

A. Directions: Read and understand the sentences well. Identify the ideas/ concepts being
described. Choose the correct answer from the choices provided in the box below. Write your
answers in your notebook/answer sheet.

1. A circuit that allows electric current to flow through a single path is known as ____________.

2. In a parallel circuit with constant voltage or the same power source, the ____________ of the
number of bulbs increases the total current.

3. The kind of electricity that is made up of moving electrons flowing through a complete circuit is
called _______________.

4. In a series circuit, the electric current that passes through each bulb ____________.

5. In order for the devices in a series circuit to work, each device must ____________.

Answer key both Activity A and B

B. Directions: Read and understand the sentences well. Identify the ideas being described to form
generalizations. Choose the correct answers from the box below. Write the answers in your
notebook/answer sheets.

1. A _________ contains two or more paths for an electric current to flow through.

2. In a parallel circuit, __________ are connected in a branched manner making each one
independent from all other connections in the circuit.

3. _________ in a parallel circuit remains the same regardless of the number of paths of the same
resistance given a constant number of dry cells or source is present.

4. One of the advantages of a parallel circuit is that appliances _______ independently.