SERIES AND PARALLEL CONNECTION

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types of circuit
There are two types of electrical circuits;
SERIES CIRCUITS PARALLEL CIRCUITS

SERIES CIRCUITS

The components are connected end-to-end, one after the other. They make a simple loop for the current to flow round. If one bulb blows it breaks the whole circuit and all the bulbs go out.

Series Circuits
The same current passes through all its components. The total resistance in a series circuit is the sum of the component resistances. If one bulb is broken, none of them will work..

PARALLEL CIRCUITS

The components are connected side by side. The current has a choice of routes. If one bulb blows there is still be a complete circuit to the other bulb so it stays alight.

Parallel Circuits
Elements are connected separately. If you remove one light, the others will work normally. Voltage is the same across each element.

measuring current
SERIES CIRCUIT current is the same at all points in the circuit.
2A 2A 2A

PARALLEL CIRCUIT current is shared between the components

2A 1A 1A 2A

Calculating Voltage for Each Bulb in a Series Circuit

The units of energy are volts, or voltage Total Battery Voltage = V1+ V2+V3 Voltage is shared evenly with each bulb taking an equal share until none is left over

Calculating Resistance in a series circuit

add together the resistance of each component in the circuit. Rtotal=R1+R2+R3

measuring voltage
The electrical push which the cell gives to the current is called the voltage. It is measured in volts (V) on a voltmeter

measuring voltage
Different cells produce different voltages. The bigger the voltage supplied by the cell, the bigger the current. Unlike an ammeter a voltmeter is connected across the components Scientist usually use the term Potential Difference (pd) when they talk about voltage.

measuring voltage
This is how we draw a voltmeter in a circuit.

V
SERIES CIRCUIT

V
PARALLEL CIRCUIT

series circuit
voltage is shared between the components

3V

1.5V

1.5V

parallel circuit
voltage is the same in all parts of the circuit.

3V 3V

3V

(Resistance)
Resistors in series The combined resistance, R, of resistors in series is found by adding up all the individual resistance R = R1 + R2 + R3 +.. Resistors in parallel


The combined resistance, R, of resistors connected in parallel is less than that of any one of the resistors

1 1 1 1 !    .... R R1 R 2 R3

Current in Series Circuits

A series circuit has only one path in which charge can flow.

Battery Switch

I
I1 R R I2 R I3

The current is same everywhere. ( I = I1 = I2 = I3 )

Current in Parallel Circuit

A parallel circuit has more than one path for the current to flow. Switch I1 R1 I2 R2 I3 R3 ( I = I1+I2+I3 )

The main current is equal to the sum of the sub-currents.