What in a circuit diagram represents a switch?

What in a circuit diagram represents a switch?

• A. Switch
• B. Battery
• C. Light bulb
• D. Resistor

Answer: (A)

Recognizing circuit symbols and what they do is the key idea here. A switch is the component that can start or stop current by opening or closing the path. In circuit diagrams, it’s shown as a break in the wire with a movable contact that can connect to another contact. When the contact touches, the circuit is closed and current flows; when it’s apart, the circuit is open and current stops. The other common symbols you’ll see are the battery (a set of long and short lines), the light bulb (a circle with a filament or cross), and the resistor (a zigzag line or a rectangle). So the symbol with the break in the wire and a movable contact is the one that represents a switch.

Recognizing circuit symbols and what they do is the key idea here. A switch is the component that can start or stop current by opening or closing the path. In circuit diagrams, it’s shown as a break in the wire with a movable contact that can connect to another contact. When the contact touches, the circuit is closed and current flows; when it’s apart, the circuit is open and current stops. The other common symbols you’ll see are the battery (a set of long and short lines), the light bulb (a circle with a filament or cross), and the resistor (a zigzag line or a rectangle). So the symbol with the break in the wire and a movable contact is the one that represents a switch.