2.8 explain why a series or parallel circuit is more appropriate for particular applications, including domestic lighting

2.8 explain why a series or parallel circuit is more appropriate for particular applications, including domestic lighting

Series Circuit:

• one switch can turn off the components on and off together
• if one bulb ( or other component) breaks, it causes a gap in the circuit and all of the other bulbs will go off
• the voltage supplied by the cell or mains supply is “shared” between all the components, so the more bulbs you add to a series circuit the dimmer they all become. The larger the resistance of the component, the bigger its “share of voltage”

Parallel Circuit:

• switches can be placed in different parts of the circuit to switch each bulb on and off individually or all together
• if one bulb (or other components) breaks, only the bulbs on the same branch of the circuit will be affected
• each branch of the circuit receives the same voltage, so if more bulbs are added to a circuit in the parallel they all stay bright.

Decorative lights are usually wired in series. Each bulb only needs a low voltage, so even when the voltage from the mains supply is shared between them, each bulb still gets enough energy to produce light. The lights in our house are wired in parallel. Each bulb can be switched on and off separately and the brightness of the bulbs does not change.