Final answer:
When a blow dryer is on and air begins to flow, it indicates the establishment of a closed circuit necessary for the appliance's operation. This closed circuit is created when the switch is turned on, allowing current to flow through the device's components. The continuous path of current flow is what enables the blow dryer to function.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a blow dryer is on and air begins to flow, what you are experiencing is an example of a closed circuit. In the context of a blow dryer, a closed circuit is formed when the switch is turned on, allowing electrical current to flow through the heating element and the motor that drives the fan. This forms a continuous path for the current, which is necessary for the blow dryer to operate. This can be contrasted with an open circuit, where there is a break or gap that prevents current from flowing.
The functioning of household appliances like blow dryers, as well as most other devices that use electricity, depends on closed circuits. These circuits consist of a power source, a load such as the heating element in the blow dryer, and conductors like wires that connect them, often represented in schematics with a zigzag symbol for the resistor or load. When the switch of the blow dryer is flipped, it closes the circuit, and only in this closed state does the appliance work.
In contrast, a series circuit means that components are arranged in a sequence so that the same current flows through all components. Parallel wiring, however, means that components are connected across the same two points in a circuit, providing each component with the same voltage level.