2. Series Series circuits Current in series circuits Voltage in series circuits

3. Series Circuits We have a series circuit when 2 or more components are connected together in the same loop

4. Now, move the ammeter in the circuit as shown and repeat the reading in each place. Record in your worksheet. Current through Series Circuits Connect an ammeter in series with the light bulbs and measure the current. Report your reading in your worksheet.

5. The current is the same everywhere in the circuit. Current through Series Circuits What do you notice about the current in the circuit? Can you think of a reason why this happens? All the electrons that go through a resistor must also go through the others. The current would decrease, because the higher the resistance, the lower the current. What would happen to the current if one of the resistors had higher resistance?

6. Now, move the voltmeter in the circuit as shown and repeat the reading in each place. Record in your worksheet. Voltage in Series Circuits Connect a voltmeter in parallel with the light bulbs and measure the current. Report your reading in your worksheet.

7. What do you notice about the Voltage across each resistors? Voltage in Series Circuits The voltage is equal across each component. As the hurdles (resistors) are the same, the little men (electrons) will use the same amount of energy to jump (go through) them. There is the same drop of voltage in each resistor. Can you think of a reason why this happens? What should the output voltage (E.M.F.) of the battery be? The output voltage of the battery is the sum of the voltage drops across the resistors, because all the energy used must be regained in the battery. So the voltage across each resistor is a third of the E.M.F. What would happen to the voltage across the resistors if one of them were higher than the others? The overall resistance has increased. Therefore, there will be less current flowing in the circuit. So, the voltage across the higher resistance will be greater than across the other two, where it is lower than before.