Download Name: Notes – 21.1 Resistors in Series and Parallel 1. Most circuits

Name: ___________________________
Notes – 21.1 Resistors in Series and Parallel
1. Most circuits have more than one component, called a resistor that limits the flow of
charge in the circuit. A measure of this limit on charge flow is called ____________.
2. Label which resistors are in series and which are in parallel.
_______________
_______________
3. Resistors in Series: I1, I2, I3 and I4 is the current through each of 4 resistors and V1,
V2, V3 and V4 is the potential difference (i.e. voltage drop) across each resistor.
A. How are I1, I2, I3 and I4 related for these resistors in series?
B. Which conservation law applies in 3.A.?
C. How are V1, V2, V3 and V4 related to the potential V of the battery or power
supply for these resistors in series?
D. Which conservation law applies in 3.C.?
E. What is the equivalent resistance (i.e. total resistance) for these 4 resistors in
series?
4. Suppose the voltage output of a battery is 12.0 V, and the resistances for 3 resistors
connected in series with the battery are R1 = 1.00 , R2 = 6.00  and R3 = 13.0 .
A. What is the total resistance?
B. Find the current.
C. Calculate the voltage drop in each resistor, and show these add to equal the
voltage output of the source.
D. Calculate the power dissipated by each resistor.
E. Find the power output of the source, and show that it equals the total power
dissipated by the resistors.
5. Resistors in Parallel: I1, I2 and I3 is the current through each of 3 resistors and V1, V2
and V3 is the potential difference (i.e. voltage drop) across each resistor.
A. How are V1, V2 and V3 related to the potential V of the battery or power supply
for these resistors in parallel?
B. How are I1, I2 and I3 related to the total current I circulating through the
batter or power supply for these resistors in parallel?
C. Which conservation law applies in 3.B.?
D. What is the equivalent resistance (i.e. total resistance) for these 4 resistors in
parallel?
6. Suppose the voltage output of a battery is 12.0 V, and the resistances for 3 resistors
connected in parallel with the battery are R1 = 1.00 , R2 = 6.00  and R3 = 13.0 .
A. What is the total resistance?
B. Find the total current.
C. Calculate the currents in each resistor, and show these add to equal the total
current output of the source.
D. Calculate the power dissipated by each resistor.
E. Find the power output of the source, and show that it equals the total power
dissipated by the resistors.