Series vs parallel circuits

ScienceEnergyAges 12–13

Describe and apply the rules for current, voltage, and resistance in series and parallel circuits, and explain the practical uses of each circuit type

Teach this topic

Learning resources

Reviewed external links that reinforce this concept. They do not replace Gakuva’s teaching approach.

No reviewed resources for this concept yet.

The teaching approach above still stands. Curated practice links will appear here as the shelf fills.

Explore the learning path

3 before · 0 after

Before

Ohm's Law: voltage, current, resistanceRequired first Circuit vocabularyRequired first Why circuit components behave differently

This concept

Series vs parallel circuitsConceptual concept

No next concept

Check understanding

States the rules for current and voltage in series circuits (current same everywhere; voltages add up)
States the rules for current and voltage in parallel circuits (voltages same across each branch; currents add up)
Explains why household wiring uses parallel circuits and identifies the advantage of each type

“Can your child explain why the lights in your home don't all switch off when you turn off one room's light, but a string of old-fashioned Christmas lights does go off if one bulb breaks?”

Curriculum record

Type: Conceptual
Subject: Science
Domain: Energy
Age range: Ages 12–13

Standards

ngss-ms:MS-PS2-3