ASVAB · Circuits and Ohm's Law

In a series circuit, if one component (like a bulb) burns out, what happens to the rest of the circuit?

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Correct answer

The entire circuit stops working because the single path is broken

A Nothing changes
B The entire circuit stops working because the single path is broken
C The circuit gets brighter
D Only that bulb dims

Why this is the answer

In a SERIES CIRCUIT, if one component burns out, the ENTIRE circuit stops working because there's only ONE path for current — breaking it anywhere stops all flow (like old Christmas lights where one bad bulb killed the whole string). ASVAB Electronics Information tests circuit types.

Series: components in a single path; same current through all; if one breaks, all stop.

Parallel: multiple paths; if one branch breaks, others keep working (like household wiring). Knowing that a break anywhere in a series circuit stops everything (vs parallel) is commonly tested.

Source: ASVAB Electronics Information — Series Circuits

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About this topic: Circuits and Ohm's Law

Circuits and Ohm's Law questions ask you to calculate voltage, current, resistance or power, and to understand series versus parallel circuits — how resistance adds in series and reduces in parallel, and what happens when one component fails. This is one of 17 Electronics Information questions on circuits and ohm's law, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

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In a series circuit, if one component (like a bulb) burns out, what happens to the rest of the circuit?

Why this is the answer

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About this topic: Circuits and Ohm's Law

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