Series and Parallel Circuits

Series Circuit Rules Parallel Circuit Rules

A “Series Circuit” follows a single loop or path A “Parallel Circuit” follows a multi loop or path

Voltage Gain = Sum of V1 +V2+V3 Voltage Gain = VT = V1 = V2 = V3

Current = IT = I1 = I2 = I3 Current = IT = I1+I2+I3
Equations Equations
Total Resistance = RT = R1+R2+R3 Total Resistance = 1/RT= 1/R1+1/R2+1/R3
Voltage = Ohm’s Law V= I x R Voltage = Ohm’s Law V= I x R

Let’s do an Example for the following Series Circuit:

1. What is the total voltage gain in the circuit?

VT = 12V

2. What is the Equivalent Resistance of the circuit?

RT = R1+R2+R3
RT = 10Ω+20Ω+30Ω
RT = 60Ω

3. What is the total current through the circuit?

V=IxR
IT = VT /RT
IT= 12V/60Ω
IT = 0.2A

4. What is the current through each Resistor?

IT = I1 = I2 = I3 Note: there is no place to add or remove current
Therefore:
I1 = 0.2A
I2 = 0.2A
I3 = 0.2A

5. What is the Voltage drop?

V1 = I1 x R1 VT = V1+V2+V3
V1 = 0.2A x 10Ω = 2V VT = 2V+4V+6V
V2 = 0.2A x 20Ω = 4V VT = 12V
V3 = 0.2A x 30Ω = 6V
Let’s do an Example for the following Parallel Circuit:

6. What is the total voltage gain in the circuit?

VT = 20V

7. What is the Equivalent Resistance of the circuit? 20V

1/RT = 1/R1+1/R2+1/R3
7Ω 15Ω 12Ω
1/RT = 1/7Ω+1/15Ω+1/12Ω
1/RT = 0.293
RT = 1/ 0.293Ω
RT = 3.41Ω

8. What is the total current through the circuit?

V = I x R = you need to divide each side by R
IT = VT /RT
IT= 20V/3.41Ω
IT = 5.87A

9. What is the Voltage drop?

VT = V1 = V2 = V3
V1 = 20V
V2 = 20V
V3 = 20V

10. What is the current through each Resistor?

IT = I1 + I2 + I3

I1 = V1/R1 I2 = V2/R2 I3 = V3/R3

I1 = 20V/7Ω I2 = 20v/15Ω I3 = 20v/12Ω
I1 = 2.86A I2 = 1.34A I3 = 1.67A

IT = 2.86A + 1.34A + 1.67A

IT = 5.87A
Combination Circuit Example:

8Ω

12Ω

24V
1. What is the total voltage gain in the circuit?

VT = 24V

2. What is the Equivalent Resistance of the circuit?

1/R1, R2 = 1/R1 +1/ R2

1/R1, R2 = 1/12Ω + 1/5Ω
1/R1, R2 = 1/0.283
R1, R2 = 3.53Ω
RT = 3.53Ω + 8Ω
RT = 11.53Ω

3. What is the total current through the circuit?

V=IxR
IT = VT /RT
IT= 24V/11.53Ω
IT = 2.08A

4. What is the current through each Resistor?

I3 = IT = 2.08A
I1 = V1/R1 I2 = V2/R2
I1 = 7.36V/12Ω I2 = 7.36/5Ω
I1 = 0.61A I2 = 1.47A
I1 + I2 = 0.61A + 1.47A = 2.08A

5. What is the Voltage drop? NOTE THIS QUESTION NEEDS TO BE DONE PRIOR TO Q#4

V3 = I3xR3 V1, 2 = VT –V3

V3 = 2.08A x 8Ω V1, 2 = 24V – 16.64V
V3 = 16.64V V1, 2 = 7.36V

V1, 2 = I1, 2 x R1, 2

V1, 2 = 2.08A x 3.53Ω
V1, 2 = 7.34V