Electrical circuit

An interconnected system of electrical components that directs electric current along paths. Its behavior depends on how sources, loads, and conducting connections are arranged.

Electric current: The rate at which electric charge flows through a surface. Current is the charge flow that circuit paths carry.
Ohm's law: The relation stating that voltage across a conductor is proportional to current through it when physical conditions remain constant. It predicts the current through a resistive circuit element.
Electric power distribution: The delivery of electrical energy from substations to consumers through local networks. Distribution networks are large circuits built to deliver power reliably.
Open circuit: A circuit path interrupted so that steady current cannot flow through it. It contrasts with a complete conducting path.
Voltage: The electric potential difference between two points, equal to energy transferred per unit charge. Voltage differences drive charge through circuit components.
Kirchhoff's circuit laws: Rules stating that currents balance at junctions and voltage changes sum to zero around closed loops. They let circuit behavior be calculated from its connections.
Analog electronics: Electronics that process signals represented by continuously varying quantities. Analog circuits shape and amplify continuously varying electrical signals.
Short circuit: An unintended low-resistance connection that can cause excessive current. It shows how a path bypassing a load can become dangerous.
Electrical resistance: A measure of how strongly a component opposes electric current. Resistance governs how much current flows for a given voltage.
Series and parallel circuits: Two basic connection patterns: components share one path in series or multiple branches in parallel. These arrangements determine how current divides and voltage is shared.

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