Download SERIES AND PARALLEL CIRCUITS

Problem Set 6: Series and Parallel Circuits
Show your work where appropriate!
1.
Current in a series circuit
a. Stays the same in all resistors.
b. Splits exactly in half in all situations.
c. Splits with the higher resistance element
getting less current.
d. Splits with the lower resistance element
getting less current.
e. Is greater than current in a parallel circuit.
4.
Current in a parallel circuit
a. Stays the same in all resistors.
b. Splits exactly in half in all situations.
c. Splits with the higher resistance element
getting less current.
d. Splits with the lower resistance element
getting less current.
e. Is greater than current in a series circuit.
2.
Electric Pressure Difference in a series circuit
a. Stays the same in all resistors.
b. Splits exactly in half in all situations.
c. Splits with the higher resistance element
getting less voltage.
d. Splits with the lower resistance element
getting less voltage.
e. Is greater than voltage in a parallel circuit.
5.
Electric Pressure Difference in a parallel circuit
a. Stays the same in all resistors.
b. Splits exactly in half in all situations.
c. Splits with the higher resistance element
getting less voltage.
d. Splits with the lower resistance element
getting less voltage.
e. Is greater than voltage in a series circuit.
3.
Resistance in a series circuit
a. Stays the same in all resistors.
b. Splits exactly in half in all situations.
c. Is greater than the resistance of a parallel
circuit with the same resistors.
d. Is less than the resistance of a parallel circuit
with the same resistors.
6.
Resistance in a parallel circuit
a. Stays the same in all resistors.
b. Splits exactly in half in all situations.
c. Is greater than the resistance of a series
circuit with the same resistors.
d. Is less than the resistance of a series circuit
with the same resistors
7. What is the equivalent resistance of the circuit three resistors with the values 136-, 220-, and 65- if
you connect them in series? In parallel?
8. Three resistors have resistances of 2500-, 100-, and 1000-. What equivalent resistance would be
produced by connecting all three resistors in series? In parallel?
9. Complete the VIRP tables below. This symbol is a resistor:
a. Circuit 1
Circuit 1
Resistance Current Voltage Power
2Ω
1
6Ω
2
6V
Total
b. Circuit 2
Circuit 2
Resistance Current Voltage Power
2Ω
1
2Ω
2
1Ω
3
6V
Total
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c.
Circuit 3
Circuit 3
1
2
3
Total
Resistance
12 Ω
40 Ω
26 Ω
Current
Voltage
Power
10 V
10. For the circuits below, solve for all of the missing data (Rtotal, Itotal, V1, I1, V2, and I2). Show your work.
R1= 1.5
Vtotal= 6V
R1= 4
R2= 6
Vtotal= 3V
R2= 2.8 
11. Circuits a and b below are identical with all bulbs rated at equal wattage (therefore equal resistance).
The only difference between the circuits is that Bulb 5 has a short circuit, as shown.
a. In which circuit is the current greater? ___
b. In which circuit are all three bulbs equally bright? ___
c. In circuit b, which bulbs are the brightest? _______
d. Which bulb is the dimmest? _______
e. Which bulbs have the largest voltage drops across
them? ______
f. Which circuit dissipates more power?
__________________
g. Which circuit produces more light? ______________
12. Identical bulbs are arranged in various circuits shown below. Rank the circuits in order of resistance, from highest to lowest.
Some may have the same resistance.
13. Identical bulbs are arranged in various circuits shown below. Rank the lettered bulbs in order of brightness, from most to
least. Some may have the same brightness.
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