Question

Describe the characteristics of series and parallel circuits. Provide examples of each.

Answer 1

Series Circuit:

In a series circuit, the components (such as resistors, lamps, or other electrical elements) are connected in a single path, so the current has only one route to flow through. The characteristics of a series circuit are as follows:

Single Path: Current flows through each component in sequence, passing through one before reaching the next.
Constant Current: The current remains the same throughout the entire circuit. The current passing through each component is identical.
Shared Voltage: The total voltage of the circuit is divided among the components. The sum of the voltage drops across each component equals the total voltage applied to the circuit.
Total Resistance: The total resistance in the circuit is the sum of the individual resistances of all components.
If one component fails: If any one component in the series circuit fails or is disconnected, the entire circuit will be broken, and all components will stop receiving current.

Example of a Series Circuit:
A simple series circuit consisting of three resistors connected in series with a battery:

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Battery (+) ---- Resistor 1 ---- Resistor 2 ---- Resistor 3 ---- Battery (-)


Parallel Circuit:

In a parallel circuit, the components are connected in such a way that there are multiple paths for the current to flow through. The characteristics of a parallel circuit are as follows:

Multiple Paths: Current splits into separate branches, with each component having its own path to the power source.
Voltage across Components: Each component in a parallel circuit has the same voltage across its terminals, which is equal to the total voltage of the circuit.
Shared Voltage: The total current supplied by the power source is divided among the branches according to the resistance of each branch.
Total Resistance: The reciprocal of the total resistance in a parallel circuit is the sum of the reciprocals of the individual resistances of all components.
If one component fails: If one component in a parallel circuit fails or is disconnected, the other components will continue to receive current from the power source.

Example of a Parallel Circuit:
A simple parallel circuit with three resistors connected to a battery:

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Battery (+) ---- Resistor 1 ----
                                \
                                 ---- Battery (-)
                                /
Battery (+) ---- Resistor 2 ----
                                \
                                 ---- Battery (-)
                                /
Battery (+) ---- Resistor 3 ----
                                \
                                 ---- Battery (-)
                                /


In this configuration, each resistor has its own path from the positive terminal of the battery to the negative terminal.