Download Ch. 23 Series and Parallel Circuits

Ch. 23
Series and Parallel Circuits
Milbank High School
Sec. 23.1
Simple Circuits
• Objectives
– Describe both a series connection and a
parallel connection and state the important
characteristics of each
– Calculate current, voltage drops, and
equivalent resistance for devices connected in
series and in parallel
– Describe a voltage divider and solve problems
involving one
Series Circuits
• Charge only has one path to follow
• Potential difference (voltage drop)
V = IR
– In an electrical circuit, Vsource is equal to the
voltage drops across your resistors
R = Ra+ Rb + ….
– Net change in potential of current is zero
• Battery or generator raises potential
Voltage drops
• As current passes through a resistor, the
potential drops an amount equal to the
increase, and therefore, the net change in
zero
• Voltage divider
– Produces a voltage of desired magnitude
– Specialized resistor
Parallel Circuits
• Several current paths
Sec. 23.2
Applications of Circuits
• Objectives
– Explain how fuses, circuit breakers, and
ground-fault interrupters protect house-hold
wiring
– Analyze conbined series-parallel circuits and
calculate the equivalent resistance of such
circuits
– State the important characteristics of
voltmeters and ammeters, and explain how
each is used in circuits