An electric circuit is a path for transmitting electric current. An electric circuit includes a device that gives energy to the charged particles constituting the current, such as a battery or a generator; devices that use current, such as lamps, electric motors, or computers; and the connecting wires or transmission lines. There are two basic types of electric circuits, called series and parallel circuits. They differ in the number of loops through which current can flow.     - A series circuit has only one loop through which current can flow. If the circuit is interrupted at any point in... Show more

An electric circuit is a path for transmitting electric current. An electric circuit includes a device that gives energy to the charged particles constituting the current, such as a battery or a generator; devices that use current, such as lamps, electric motors, or computers; and the connecting wires or transmission lines.

There are two basic types of electric circuits, called series and parallel circuits. They differ in the number of loops through which current can flow.    
- A series circuit has only one loop through which current can flow. If the circuit is interrupted at any point in the loop, no current can flow through the circuit and no devices in the circuit will work. Series circuits are commonly used in devices such as flashlights.    
- A parallel circuit has two (or more) loops through which current can flow. If the circuit is interrupted in one of the loops, current can still flow through the other loop(s). The wiring in a house consists of parallel circuits.

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