Resistors in Circuits

Discussion
series
IT = I1 = I2 = I3 = …

VT = V1 + V2 + V3 + …

ITRT = I1R1 + I2R2 + I3R3 + …

RT = R1 + R2 + R3 + …

RT = ∑ Ri

parallel
VT = V1 = V2 = V 3 = …

IT = I1 + I2 + I3 + …

VT = V1 + V2 + V 3 + …
RT R1 R2 R3

1 1 1 1
= + + +…
RT R1 R2 R3

1 1
=∑
Rp Ri

Summary
 The basic components of a simple circuit are…

o a source of voltage or potential difference (V) like a

battery, power supply, solar cell, etc.

o a device with a resistance (R) like a light, heater, motor,

television, etc. identified by the generic name resistor.

o wires of negligible resistance to carry current (I) on a

closed loop from the voltage source to the resistor and
back.
 Conservation of charge in a circuit

o The current flowing into a component equals the current

flowing out.

 Conservation of energy in a circuit

o When current flows through a voltage source it

experiences a voltage increase.

o When current flows through a resistor it experiences a

voltage drop.

o When current flows around a circuit it experiences no

change in voltage.

 The components in a series circuit are connected along a

single path.

o In a series circuit, current is the same everywhere.

Is = I1 = I2 = I3 = … = Ii

o In a series circuit, voltage divides so that the voltage

increase supplied by the voltage source equals the sum of
the voltage drops across the resistors.
 Vs = V1 + V2 + V3 + … = ∑ Vi

o In a series circuit, the total resistance equals the sum of

the individual resistances.

Rs = R1 + R2 + R3 + … = ∑ Ri

 Resistance increases (and current decreases) as

resistors are added in series to a source of constant
voltage.

 The components in a parallel circuit lie on independent

branches.

o In a parallel circuit, current divides so that the total

current through the voltage source equals the sum of the
currents through the branches.

Ip = I1 + I2 + I3 + … = ∑ Ii

o In a parallel circuit, the voltage increase across

the voltage source is the same as the voltage drops across
each branch.

Vp = V1 = V2 = V3 = … = Vi
 o In a parallel circuit, the inverse of the total
resistance equals the sum of the inversesof the individual
resistances.
1 1 1 1 1
= + + +…=∑
Rp R1 R2 R3 Ri

 Resistance decreases (and current increases) as resistors

are added in parallel to a source of constant voltage.

 Meters in circuits

o Current is measured with an ammeter.

 An ammeter is wired in series with the circuit element

or section of the circuit being examined.

 An ideal ammeter has zero resistance so that it does

not increase the resistance and reduce the current.

 The symbol for an ammeter is an uppercase A⃝ in a

circle.

o Voltage is measured with a voltmeter.

  A voltmeter is wired parallel to the circuit element or
section of the circuit being examined.

 An ideal voltmeter has infinite resistance so that it

does not decrease the resistance and increase the
current (so that is does not short the circuit).

 The symbol for a voltmeter is an uppercase V⃝ in a

circle.

o Resistance is measured with an ohmmeter.

 An ohmmeter combines a power supply with an

ammeter and a voltmeter.

 An ohmmeter "computes" resistance from the ratio of

voltage to current.

 The symbol for an ohmmeter is an uppercase Greek Ω⃝

(omega) in a circle.
Batteries in Circuits
Discussion
introduction
series: add voltges. A battery is a series of cells.

parallel: add currents — sort of. This is not a good way to

store batteries, by the way.

internal resistance

V = ℰ − Ir
Where…

V = terminal voltage, the voltage that you actually get out of the batte
conditions, the voltage that you'd measure across the terminals

ℰ = electromotive force (emf), the ideal voltage of the battery, the ele
caused by the chemical reaction taking place inthe battery, a num
compute

I = current, the load that the battery is delivering to the circuit

r = internal resistance, every part in a circuit has some resistance —

normally thought of as pure voltage elements

Capacitors in Circuits
Discussion
series
QT = Q1 = Q2 = Q3 = …

VT = V1 + V2 + V 3 + …
QT Q1 Q2 Q3
= + + +…
CT C1 C2 C3

1 1 1 1
= + + +…
CT C1 C2 C3

1 1
=∑
Cs Ci

parallel
VT = V1 = V 2 = V3 = …

QT = Q1 + Q2 + Q3 + …

CTVT = C1V1 + C2V2 + C3V3 + …

CT = C1 + C2 + C3 + …

Cp = ∑ Ci