Series and Parallel Circuits Series Circuits Describes two

Series and Parallel Circuits

Series Circuits • Describes two or more components in a circuit that provide a single path for current

Facts about Series Circuits • The more light bulbs you add, the dimmer the light gets because current is shared throughout all of them • If one light bulb is burned out, it breaks the circuit and nothing will light up • Current is the same through each resistor • Voltage drop changes depending on the strength of the resistor

To figure out the current running through each resistor…. We need to find the Equivalent Resistance

Equivalent Resistance: Series circuits Req = R 1 + R 2 + …. + Rn 3 kΩ + 10 kΩ + 5 kΩ = 18 kΩ Req = 18 kΩ

Parallel Circuits • Describes two or more components of a circuit that provide separate conducting paths for current because the components are connected across common points or junctions

Facts about Parallel Circuits • Every light bulb will get all of the current- does not matter how many light bulbs you add • Voltage is the same across every resistor • Total current in battery is equal to the sum of the current going through each resistor

To find the Equivalent Resistance in a Parallel Circuit 1/Req = 1/R 1 + 1/R 2 + … + 1/Rn 1/Req = 1/10Ω +1/2Ω + 1/1 Ω 1/Req = 0. 1Ω + 0. 5Ω + 1Ω = 1. 6Ω Req = 1/ 1. 6 Ω

Circuits can also be in combination