Combination Circuits

The circuits in devices that you use are more complicated than the simple series and parallel circuits you studied in the previous topic. For example, a clock radio plugged into the wall in your house receives one hundred and twenty volts. The LEDs that light up the clock, however, cannot handle that much voltage. The speaker may also have different voltage requirements. Devices, such as a clock radio, are made up of many components that each have their own specific requirements for voltage or current. How can the parts of one device have different voltages and currents? The flow of current is controlled using resistors. By using combinations of series and parallel arrangements the specific requirements of device components can be met. In this topic, you will use the relationships that you learned about current, voltage and resistance to analyze more complicated circuits.

Essential Questions:

• How can you determine the voltage or current of individual components in a combination circuit?