Chapter 20 Summary Circuits and Circuit Elements Summary If you want to light a bulb, you require a voltage source and a complete circuit. An electric circuit is a set components connected so that they provide one or more paths for the movement of charges. Any element or group of elements in the circuit that dissipates energy is called the load. In a series circuit, there is only one current. The current through each bulb in the diagram below would be the same. In a parallel circuit, there are multiple pathways for the charges to flow. Images Figure 20-1a Figure 20-1b Figure 20-1c Summary The total voltage, current and resistance in a circuit depend on the configuration of the components in the circuit. Important Formulas