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Electricity

Parallel Circuits

How do Switches control Lamps in Parallel Circuits?

In the parallel circuit below, the switch at S₁ or S₅
will switch all the lamps on and off together
if all the other switches are closed. Closed means on.

With switches S₁ and S₅ both closed in the circuit
above, the switch at S₂ will only light the lamp at L₁.
This is very useful because it means that we can
switch the lamp at L₁ on and off independently.
The brightness of the lamp at L₁ does not change
as other lamps in parallel are switched on or off.

Lights in a house are always connected in parallel
so that they can be operated independently
(except fairy lights for Christmas or other occasions).

The switch at S₃ will only operate the lamp at L₂
and the switch at S₄ will only operate the lamp at L₃.

Compare this with lamps in a series circuit.

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