CIRCUITS 1

Series and Parallel Circuits

Series Circuits
s
r
o
t
s
i
s
e
r
e
r
o
m
r
o
o
w
t
When
Connected one
end after
another
To form a single path for
current flow

Series Circuits
m
o
r
f
e
c
n
e
r
e
f
i
d
l
a
i
t
n
Pote
d
e
r
a
h
s
s
i
y
r
e
t
t
a
b
e
h
t

Therefore each bulb glows

dimly

Series Circuits
s
i
b
l
u
b
h
c
a
e
f
o
w
o
f
Current
s am e

Therefore brightness of
each bulb is the same

Series Circuits
n
e
h
w
n
e
k
o
r
b
s
i
t
i
u
c
r
i
The c
ed
v
o
m
e
r
s
i
one bulb

And the other bulbs go out

as well

Series Circuits

Parallel
Circuits

e
r
a
s
t
n
e
n
All compo
connected

With their
corresponding
ends
joined togethe
r
To form separate and
parallel paths for
current flow

Parallel
Circuits

Each bulb is connected

directly to the battery

Thus each bulb

glows
brightly

Because each bulb gets

the full potential
difference

Parallel
Circuits

Each bulb has

a higher
brightness

Than each bulb in a

series circuit

Parallel
Circuits

The circuit remains

unbroken

If one bulb is re
moved

So the other two bulbs

will remain to work

Parallel
Circuits

Compare the Circuits

Current
Series Circuit

Parallel
Circuit

A1

X
3

A1

A2

Current has only one path to

flow
Reading on A1 = Reading on
A2
Same current flows through
each resistors

A2

Current splits into different

paths
Reading on A = Reading on A1
+ A2
Main current is shared
between the two resistors

Compare the Circuits Potential

Difference
Series Circuit
X

V1

V2
V

Reading on V = Reading of V1
+ V2
Potential Difference is shared
by the two resistors

Parallel
Circuit
V1
X

V2
Reading on V1 = Reading on
V2
Potential difference is the
same across each resistor

Compare the
Circuits

Series Circuit

Parallel
Circuit

When one bulb has blown up

When one bulb has blown up

The other bulb would not be

able to light up

The other bulb can still light

up

Compare the
Circuits

Series Circuit

Parallel
Circuit

Dimmer bulbs

Brighter bulbs

Less voltage across each bulb

Higher voltage across each

bulb
Larger current pass through
each bulb

Less current pass through

each bulb

Determining Effective
Resistance

Series Circuit
I

I1

I2

I3

Parallel
Circuit

V1

V2

V3

R
1

I1

V1

R
2

I2
I

Current

Potential
Differenc
e
Resistan
ce

V2

R
3

I3

V3

 A 3.0resistor is connected in
parallel to a 5.0resistor. What is
their equivalent (total) resistance?
Three resistors, with resistances of
2.0,4.0,and 6.0are connected
in a series to a 3.0 V battery. Find the
equivalent resistance and the current
in the circuit.

 A 4.0and a 6.0resistor are connected

in a series with a 3.0 V battery. Find the
voltage across each resistor.
Three resistors, with resistances of 3.0,
6.0, and 9.0, respectively, are
connected in a series and attached to a 9.0
V battery.Find the total resistance (Rs), the
total current (Is), the current through each
resistor, the voltage across each resistor,
and the power converted by each resistor.

 Three resistors, with resistances of

5.0, 8.0, and 12.0, respectively,
are connected in a parallel circuit
with a 9.0 V battery.Find the total
resistance (Rs), the total current (Is),
the current through each resistor, the
voltage across each resistor, and the
power converted by each resistor.