Idea 8of 9Builds onOne loop
Side by side
Two bulbs on two branches. What do they share?
Today you'll discover
- what each branch gets from the battery
- where the flow splits and joins again
- why houses are wired this way
Think firstTwo equal bulbs, each on its own branch
Two equal bulbs, each on its own branch across 12 V. What does each get?
Decide first, then press Next. Trace each bulb's own loop back to the battery.
A battery on the left with two bulbs on two parallel branches. After a prediction, the current is shown splitting at a junction and rejoining, then the full volts are printed across each branch. The last step asks what happens to one bulb when the other burns out.
See the whole ideathe big idea and the key word, in one place
The big idea
Parallel: full volts on each branch, the current shared out.
Compare themSeries: one loop, the current shared whole, the volts divided. Parallel: the volts whole on every branch, the current divided. A house is parallel so every lamp gets 120 V.
Key word
- parallel
- components on separate branches between the same two points: the same voltage across each, currents adding at the junctions
About this modelCharge is never used up: what leaves the battery comes back. Volts are what get spent.
Charge is never used up: what leaves the battery comes back. Volts are what get spent.
Ready to use it?
- Give the voltage across and current through each bulb in a described parallel circuit.