Electrical current flowing from one component to the next typically describes which kind of circuit?

A series circuit is characterized by the flow of electrical current through one component to the next in a single path. In this type of circuit, each component is connected sequentially, meaning that there is only one route for the current to take. If you think about a chain, each link represents a component, and the current must pass through each link one after the other.

In a series circuit, if any component or connection is broken, the entire circuit is interrupted, which stops the flow of current. This is because the current must pass through each component in turn, and any break in this path will prevent the current from reaching the subsequent components.

In contrast, a parallel circuit allows current to flow through multiple pathways, and if one pathway is interrupted, the other pathways can continue to operate. A complex circuit combines elements of both series and parallel configurations, while an open circuit indicates a break or discontinuity in the path, preventing any flow of current at all.

Thus, because current flows from one component to the next in a single pathway without any branches, the series circuit is the correct description.