Question

What is the difference between circuit and network ?

Answer 1

Hint:The electrical circuit is a path through which the current flows due to the difference in the potential. In an electrical circuit, all connections should be closed whereas in an electrical network there is a chance of the presence of an open path. Electric Network is a network or connection of a number of electrical elements that are connected in any manner.

Complete answer:
The electrical circuit is a path or arrangement of electrical elements in which there is a potential difference and current flows from higher potential to lower potential condition being that all the connection of the circuit should be closed and there must be no open path.An electrical circuit is shown in below,

As you can see above, the circuit contains a DC source and few resistors. The important thing to notice here is that the circuit is closed and there is no open path. So the current will be flowing through every element according to the difference in potential. So, the points we can summarize about the Electrical Circuit are:
-There should be no open path in the circuit.
-The current should flow through every element present in the circuit.

Now, talking about electric networks, if a number of electrical elements are connected in any manner then the network formed will be called an electric network. There is a chance of an open path in the electrical network. An Electrical Network is shown in below,

As you can see in the above arrangement there is an open path, hence it is called an electrical network. So, the points we can summarize about the Electrical Network are:
-There is an open path present in the network.
-Current may not be flowing through all the elements of the network.

Note: The main difference between the two is that in circuits current must pass through all elements while in network current must not pass through all the components. Circuit should have a completely closed path but the network must not have a closed path condition.