Electricity has been an essential part of our lives since the late 1800s and it’s only become more important with time. We rely on it to power our homes, businesses and other applications. But how does electricity actually flow? As it turns out, there are two distinct types of electric circuits – parallel and series.
Parallel circuits are the most common form of electric circuit. In this type of circuit, there are multiple paths for the electrical current to flow, meaning that the current divides into different branches and follows each one. This is beneficial because it allows you to control the amount of current flowing in each branch, meaning that you can have multiple devices running off of the same power source without overloading any one branch.
Series circuits, on the other hand, involve only one path for the current to flow. The current flows through each device in the circuit in sequence and the voltage is shared among all of them. This means that if one device fails, the entire circuit will be affected as the current cannot flow anymore.
Both types of circuits have their advantages and disadvantages; it all depends on what your application is. If you need to be able to control the amount of current flowing in a given branch, then a parallel circuit is the way to go. On the other hand, if you need devices to be powered in sequence, then a series circuit might be the better choice. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide which type of circuit is best for your application.
