An open circuit is an electrical circuit in which the flow of electric current is interrupted or incomplete, preventing the current from flowing. This occurs when there is a break or gap in the circuit, such as when a switch is turned off, a wire is disconnected, or a component fails. In an open circuit, the electrical path is not continuous, so electrons cannot travel from the power source through the circuit and back to the source. As a result, no electrical devices connected to the circuit will function. For example, when a light switch is turned off, the circuit is open, and the light bulb does not illuminate because the current cannot flow.
A closed circuit, in contrast, is an electrical circuit in which the current can flow uninterrupted because the circuit forms a complete, continuous path. In a closed circuit, all components, such as wires, switches, and devices, are connected in a loop, allowing electrons to travel from the power source through the circuit and back. When a circuit is closed, electrical devices connected to it can operate because the current flows freely. For instance, when a light switch is turned on, the circuit becomes closed, completing the path and allowing the light bulb to glow as electricity flows through it.
