1. Series Circuit Applied Physics and Chemistry Circuit Lecture 3

2. Symbols Used

3. Series Circuit in which current passes through all resistors
Only one path for current
Each resistor uses up some of the potential
Vsource = Va + Vb

4. Resistance
Equivalent resistance (effective resistance) for devices in a series circuit is sum of individual resistances
R = R1 + R2 + R3 + …

5. Current
Current in a series circuit is the source voltage divided by the equivalent resistance
Current is the same everywhere in the circuit
Icircuit = Vsource/Req

6. Example
Two resistors, 47Ω and 82Ω, are connected in series across a 45V battery. What is the current in the circuit? What is the voltage drop at each resistor?
Known: R1=47Ω R2=82Ω V=45V
Req = R1 + R2
Req = 47Ω + 82Ω = 129Ω

7. Example Continued Current in the resistor: I = V/R
I = 45V/129Ω = A
Voltage at resistor 1: V = IR
V=(0.349 A)(47Ω) = 16.4 V
Voltage at resistor 2: V = IR
V = (0.349 A)(82Ω) = 28.6 V

8. Example Continued
Will current increase, decrease or stay the same if the 47Ω resistor is replaced by a 37Ω resistor?
New Req = 37Ω + 82Ω = 119 Ω
I = V/R = 45V/119Ω = A
Current increases

9. Example Continued What is the new voltage drop at resistor 2? V = IR
V = (0.378 A)(82Ω) = 31V

10. Series Circuit Uses
Series circuit can be used as a voltage divider If a certain resistance needs a specific voltage, series circuit can be used to provide that Example p 406 A 9.0 V battery and two resistors R1= 400 Ω and R2 = 500 Ω are connected as a voltage divider. What is the voltage across R2?

11. Parallel Circuits

12. Parallel Circuit Multiple pathways for current
Total current is the sum of the currents at each resistor (Current is NOT the same everywhere)
Potential difference is the same everywhere in the circuit

13. Parallel Circuit Equivalent resistance is reciprocal
1/Req = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 …
Placing resistors in parallel always decreases the equivalent resistance of the circuit

14. Example
Three resistors, 60Ω, 30Ω, and 20Ω, are connected in parallel across a 90V battery. Find the current through each branch of the circuit. Find the equivalent resistance. Find the current through the battery.
Known: R1=60Ω R2=30Ω R3=20Ω V=90V

15. Example Continued Current at R1: I=V/R I=90V/60Ω=1.5A
Equivalent Resistance: 1/Req=1/60Ω + 1/30Ω + 1/20Ω = 6/60Ω
Req = 10Ω
Total Current: I=V/R I=90V/10Ω I=9 A

16. Sample Circuits