PHY12L E306

Analysis
1. In a circuit, should the total voltage drop across all resistors be equal
to the voltage of the battery? Explain.
No, the statement is not true for all circuits. The statement only applies
to series circuits, but does not apply to parallel circuits. In a series circuit, there is only one path for
the current to flow, so the total voltage will be divided into each resistor. On the other hand, since a
parallel circuit has multiple paths, the battery and parallel connections will share the same voltage.

2. In a series connection of resistors, does the current through a certain

resistor depend on the resistance? Explain.
No, the current through a certain resistor does not depend on its resistance but The current is

both dependent with the sum of the resistances in every resistor and the voltage
drops. The total resistance is the resistance that a single resistor would have in
order to generate the same overall effect on the resistance as the combination
of resistors which are present. The current due to the total resistance is constant as it flows
through any given point in the circuit.

3. In a parallel connection of resistors, why is the voltage drop across

resistors the same even if the resistances are different?
The voltage drops across resistors in a parallel connection are the same even if the resistances
are different because 1 end of every resistor is connected together, and also the other end of
each one is also connected to each other, to a common point. Therefore it is impossible to have a
different voltage across any of the paralleled resistances. Unlike in a series circuit, the charges
are taking different paths and they have the same potential which would result to equal voltage
drops in each resistor.

Conclusion Questions
1. Consider two resistors R and 2R connected in series to a battery of
voltage V. Compare the current through each resistor with the total
current. Why is this so?

In connecting the resistors in series, the current in each resistor is the

same with the total current since only one current flow through all the
resistors that are arranged in a chain. This is the only possible path for
the current to take, so all the parts of the circuit have the same
current. As you increased on the resistance of the resisor, the voltage
will also be increased.
2. Consider two resistors R and 2R connected in series to a battery of
voltage V. Compare the voltage across each resistor with the voltage
across the battery. Why is this so?
In series circuit, the voltage across the battery or the source is the sum of each
voltage across each resistor. The voltage from the positive terminal is greater than
from the voltage of the negative terminal. The voltage is being shared and divided
by all the resistors. So, the first resistors receive more voltage than the next one.
This voltage drop is caused by the
3. Consider two resistors R and 2R connected in parallel to a battery of
voltage V.Compare the current through each resistor with the total
current. Why is this so?
4. Consider two resistors R and 2R connected in parallel to a battery of
voltage V.Compare the voltage across each resistor with the voltage
across the battery. Why is this so?

PHY12L E306
Conclusion Questions
1. Consider two resistors R and 2R connected in series to a battery of
voltage V. Compare the current through each resistor with the total
current. Why is this so?
The current flow through the two resistors is the same with the total current
flow. It is because the charge does not accumulate at any point in the series circuit
and the resistors do not use it up, and since there is only a single pathway, the
current passes through the series circuit at the same rate.

2. Consider two resistors R and 2R connected in series to a battery of

voltage V. Compare the voltage across each resistor with the voltage
across the battery. Why is this so?
The voltage in the positive terminal is greater than the voltage in the
negative terminal of the electric circuit. The voltage in the resistors R and 2R are
different because there is a voltage drop as the charge moves through components
of the electric circuit. The voltage drop is caused by energy transformation within
the resistor such as thermal, light, mechanical, etc. therefore the voltage is lesser
when the charge reaches the end of the circuit which is the negative terminal.
3. Consider two resistors R and 2R connected in parallel to a battery of
voltage V. Compare the current through each resistor with the total
current. Why is this so?
The total current is equal to the sum of the current in the branches. The
current in the two resistors R and 2R are different because the pathway is divided
into branches. Since there are multiple pathways in the parallel circuit, there can be
more current in one branch than there is in another.
4. Consider two resistors R and 2R connected in parallel to a battery of
voltage V. Compare the voltage across each resistor with the voltage
across the battery. Why is this so?
In the parallel circuit, the voltage across the resistors R and 2R are the same.
It is because the charge will only pass through a single pathway, its either resistor
R or 2R. Furthermore, there is no voltage drop until it reaches the resistor on that
branch. However, when it reaches the resistor, the charge has returned nearly to
zero volts and it will return to the negative terminal to have its voltage boost in
order for the voltage drop to match the voltage of the battery. Thus, the voltage
remains the same across the circuit.