Download PP-Series and Parrellel circuts

9.1 Series and Parallel Circuits
Series Circuits
•
There is only a single pathway for
current to flow
•
All the voltage from a battery is used up on
loads such as light bulbs or resistors
•
•
The sum of the voltages lost on the
loads equals the total voltage
supplied by the battery
Current measured anywhere is equal since the electrons only have
one path to follow
-Resistance placed in
series increase the total
resistance of the circuit
therefore the total current
decreases
See pages 306 - 313
Parallel Circuits
Parallel Circuits
•
Multiple pathways for current to flow, adding more pathways
lowers resistance
•
Voltage remains the same through
each pathway of the parallel circuit
•
Current splits up between the
different current pathways that
eventually converge so a portion
of electrons travel each path
•
•
The pathway with less resistance
will be able to have more electrons
travel on it so the current will be
greater
The location where the circuit
divides into multiple paths or where
multiple paths combine is called a
junction
Parallel cont.
• When resistors are in parallel, another path is available
so the total resistance decreases and therefore the total current
increases