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Series and Parallel Circuits
Series circuit – a circuit that only has_________ path for current to travel in
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In a series circuit, all the ______________ from a battery is used up on
loads such as light bulbs or resistors
o Each load in a series circuit loses a portion of the total voltage so the
________________ of the voltages lost on the loads equals the total
voltage supplied
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The current in each part of a series circuit is _____________ since the
electrons only have one path to follow
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Resistors placed in series _______________ the total resistance of the
circuit and therefore the total current decreases
Parallel Circuits – electrons have _____________ paths after leaving a battery
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Loads that are in parallel have the _______________ voltage since it
doesn’t matter which path is taken, all potential energy is lost before
returning to the battery
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The current branches into different pathways that eventually
________________ so a portion of the electrons travel each path
o The pathway with _______________ resistance will be able to have
more electrons travel on it so the current will be greater
o The location where the circuit divides into multiple paths or where
multiple paths combine is called a ________________________
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When resistors are in parallel, another path is available so the total
resistance ________________ and therefore the total current increases