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 = R1 + R2 + …. + Rn 3kΩ + 10kΩ + 5kΩ = 18kΩ Req = 18kΩ

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/R1 + 1/R2 + … + 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