circuit
A circuit is a configuration of electronic parts that allows them to actually do something. A circuit will include some kind of mechanism to provide energy to the electrons in the wires, causing them to want to flow from one side of the mechanism to the other, and some means of conveying them in a loop from one side to the other.
In the diagram above, the first circuit contains the proper elements: a source of power (a single cell) and the means to convey the power from one side of the cell to the other through the lamp, but the loop is not closed, so no current flows. In the second diagram, the wires are connected so electricity flows.
Electricity can be thought to flow from the positive side of the circuit to the negative side. Most electrical circuits are laid out with this kind of flow in mind. In actual fact, the means by which electricity is conveyed, the electron, is a negatively charged particle, so in fact electrons flow from the negative side to the positive side.
In most electronics, the circuit is a variation of the following:
Power issues from the positive terminal of a power supply and is conducted to the device that is to be powered. The electricity flows through that device, giving up its energy in the process to do useful things in the device then returns to the power supply. Care has to be taken that the power supply can provide sufficent current for the device.
A device might be simple internally - perhaps a light or a heating element, or it may be complex, containing many sub-circuits.
Power supplies can power multiple devices:
In this case both devices will receive the rated voltage of the power supply, and the total current will be the current consumed by both the first device and the second.
Devices can also be powered by multiple power supplies:
In this case, the device requires two different supplies. This might be because the device needs two different voltages (e.g. one for electronics and one for motors) or it might be that one supply is intended for delicate electronics and the other for less critical devices (like motors or lights). Note that the negative sides of the power supplies are connected together.
In the diagram above, the first circuit contains the proper elements: a source of power (a single cell) and the means to convey the power from one side of the cell to the other through the lamp, but the loop is not closed, so no current flows. In the second diagram, the wires are connected so electricity flows.
Electricity can be thought to flow from the positive side of the circuit to the negative side. Most electrical circuits are laid out with this kind of flow in mind. In actual fact, the means by which electricity is conveyed, the electron, is a negatively charged particle, so in fact electrons flow from the negative side to the positive side.
In most electronics, the circuit is a variation of the following:
Power issues from the positive terminal of a power supply and is conducted to the device that is to be powered. The electricity flows through that device, giving up its energy in the process to do useful things in the device then returns to the power supply. Care has to be taken that the power supply can provide sufficent current for the device.
A device might be simple internally - perhaps a light or a heating element, or it may be complex, containing many sub-circuits.
Power supplies can power multiple devices:
In this case both devices will receive the rated voltage of the power supply, and the total current will be the current consumed by both the first device and the second.
Devices can also be powered by multiple power supplies:
In this case, the device requires two different supplies. This might be because the device needs two different voltages (e.g. one for electronics and one for motors) or it might be that one supply is intended for delicate electronics and the other for less critical devices (like motors or lights). Note that the negative sides of the power supplies are connected together.
Forgot your password?
New user?
