Basic electric circuits

Match each component of a circuit with its function. Components: generator, conducting wire, receiver, and switch. Functions: drives the charges, carries current from one point to another, makes use of electrical energy, and opens or closes the path of the current.

What is an electrical receiver? Give three examples of electrical receivers in your home and state what the electrical energy is transformed into in each one (for example, a bulb transforms it into light).

State whether each component in this list is a generator or a receiver: the battery of a remote control, the motor of a fan, the battery of an electric scooter, a doorbell buzzer and a bulb.

Explain in your own words the difference between an open circuit and a closed circuit. Look at the two setups in the diagram:

In which of the two does the bulb light up? Why?

What does a switch do in a circuit? Relate it to open and closed circuits: what state does each switch position leave the circuit in?

Lucía sets up her circuit with a cell, wires and a bulb, but it does not light up. State three possible causes of the fault and explain how she would test each one to find the problem.

Two bulbs are connected one after the other, in series, to the same cell, as shown in the diagram.

1. a) If one of the bulbs blows, what happens to the other one?
2. b) Explain this by considering the path the current follows.

A corridor has two bulbs connected in series. Where should the switch be placed to turn off both at the same time: next to the first one, next to the second one, or does it not matter where on the path it is? Justify your answer.

A set of Christmas lights has twenty bulbs connected in series.

1. a) Why do all the bulbs go out when just one blows?
2. b) How should they be connected so that this does not happen?
3. c) Propose a practical method to locate the blown bulb among the twenty.

Now the two bulbs are connected in parallel: each one has its own path for the current from the cell, as shown in the diagram.

1. a) If one blows, does the other one stay lit?
2. b) How do you think the lights in your home are connected, in series or in parallel? Give reasons for your answer.

Two bulbs are connected in parallel and we want to turn off both at the same time with a single switch. Where would you place it: in one of the branches or in the main path, before the circuit splits? Draw the circuit diagram in your notebook and justify your answer.

You can do it on paper and send a photo with your answer.

Using the same cell, we set up two circuits: one with two bulbs in series and another with two bulbs in parallel.

1. a) In which of the two do the bulbs shine brighter? Give reasons for your answer by considering how difficult the path is for the current.
2. b) What happens in each circuit if a bulb blows?
3. c) Which of the two setups would you choose for home lighting? Why?

If we connect the two terminals of a battery directly with a wire, without any component, as shown in the figure, a short circuit occurs: the battery and the wire get very hot, and the battery gets damaged.

1. a) Explain what happens to the current when it finds nothing to use the energy.
2. b) Why can a short circuit in a home installation be dangerous?

Hugo sets up his circuit as follows: a wire goes from one terminal of the battery to the bulb, and another wire goes from the bulb back to the same terminal of the battery, as shown in the figure.

1. a) Will the bulb light up?
2. b) What mistake has he made?
3. c) Explain how the circuit should be arranged so that the current completes a full loop.

The light inside the fridge turns on when opening the door and turns off when closing it.

1. a) What circuit component does the door activate without us noticing?
2. b) Explain what happens to the light circuit when opening and closing the door.
3. c) Considering household energy consumption, why is it important that the light turns off automatically?