23 Series and Parallel Circuits

2 Applications of Circuits
MAINIDEA
Write the Main Idea for this lesson.

REVIEW VOCABULARY Recall and write the definition of the Review Vocabulary term.
electric current electric current Is the flow of electrons in a circuit

NEW VOCABULARY Use your book to define each term.

short circuit short circuit Is an overcurrent that greatly exceeds the normal
fuse
full load current of the circuit
circuit breaker
fuse Is an electrical safety device designed to protect an
ground-fault interrupter
electrical circuit from damage caused by overcurrent
combination series-
parallel circuit circuit breaker Is an electrical switch designed to protect an
electrical circuit from damage caused by overcurrent or short

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Current

ground-fault interrupter Is a device that quickly breaks an

Electrical circuit to prevent serious harm from an ongoing
Electric shock

combination series-parallel circuit Is an electrical circuit that

Contains both series and parallel connections of resistors

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350
 2 Applications of Circuits (continued)
Student Edition, pp. 635–637 Identify a problem that could occur if too many devices are plugged into
a parallel circuit.
It can cause an electrical overload, which can lead to circuit

Damage, overheating, and even fire.

Explain why you can turn off a printer without affecting the power to
a computer, even if they are both plugged in to the same outlet.
Because they are connected to the same outlet but are not

Connected in series or parallel

List the steps for solving problems that involve combination series-
parallel circuits.
Solving problems that involve combination series-parallel
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Circuits requires assessing which resistor are connected in

Series or parallel, redrawing the circuit to simplify it, and

Calculating the total resistance, total current, and voltage

Drop across each resistor in the circuit.

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351
2 Applications of Circuits (continued)
Student Edition, p. 638 TRY IT!
Use with Example Problem 4 Problem
SERIES-PARALLEL CIRCUIT A toaster with a resistance of 14.0 Ω and
Use this column for a blender with a resistance of 25.0 Ω are connected in parallel to a 125-V
scratch work and source through a 1.50-Ω resistor in series. Find the current through the
toaster when the blender is on.
sketches.
1. ANALYZE AND SKETCH THE PROBLEM
KNOWNS UNKNOWNS

R1 =
14 =?

R2 = 25 =?

R3 = 1.50 =?

∆Vsource = 125 =?

2. SOLVE FOR THE UNKNOWN

Find the equivalent resistance for the parallel circuit, Rp.
To find the equivalent resistance (Rp) for a parallel circuit,
you can use the formula for the reciprocal of the equivalent
resistance:

Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.

1 / Rp
Find the =equivalent
1 / R1 +resistance,
1 / R2 + 1R, /and
R3total
+ ...current, I, for the circuit.

To find the
Where R1, equivalent resistance
R2, R3, etc., (R) and totalofcurrent
are the resistances (I) for
the individual
abranches
circuit, I'llinneed more information
the parallel about
circuit. Simply add theupspecific
the
configuration and values of the components
reciprocals of the resistances and take the reciprocal in the circuit.
of the
Please provide
sum to find Rp. the values of the resistors and the circuit
Calculatesuch
layout, as whether
the potential it's afor
difference series or parallel circuit. With
the toaster.
this information, I can help you calculate the equivalent
To calculate the potential difference (voltage) for a toaster,
resistance and total current.
you'll need to know the power rating (in watts) and the
resistance of the toaster's heating element.

The potential difference (V) can be calculated using the

Calculate the current for the toaster.
formula:
To calculate the current for the toaster, you can use Ohm's
Vlaw, which
= √(P * R)relates voltage (V), current (I), and resistance
(R). The formula is:
Where:
-I V=V is /the
R potential difference (voltage) in volts (V).
- P is the power rating of the toaster in watts (W).
-Where:
R is the resistance of the toaster's heating element in
-Science
ohmsI is the current
(Ω).
Notebook in amperes
• Series and Parallel(A).
Circuits
- V is the voltage 352(potential difference) in volts (V).
If- Ryouis the
haveresistance
the powerinrating
ohmsand (Ω).resistance, you can
 2 Applications of Circuits (continued)
Student Edition, pp. 638–639 TRY IT! (CONTINUED)
3. EVALUATE THE ANSWER
Yes
• Are the units correct?

• Is the magnitude realistic? Yes

Explain why the resistance in an ammeter should be as low as possible.

The resistance in an ammeter should be as low as possible

To avoid altering the current in the circuit being measured and

To prevent a voltage drop across the ammeter

Explain why the resistance in a voltmeter should be extremely large.

The resistance in a voltmeter should be extremely large to

Avoid altering the voltage in the circuit being measured and

Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.

To prevent a current from flowing though the voltmeter

SUMMARIZE
How does the MAINIDEA for this section relate to the chapter’s BIGIDEA?

REVIEW IT!
18. MAINIDEA Explain in your own words what a combination series-parallel circuit is.

A combination series-parallel circuit is an electrical circuit that mixes both series and parallel connec

Science Notebook • Series and Parallel Circuits

353
2 Applications of Circuits (continued)
29. Brightness If the bulbs are identical, how do
Refer to Figure 17 for questions 29–33 and 35 the brightness of the bulbs compare?
A 200
B
I3 A I1 I2 A

A
1 2 30. Current If I3 is 1.7 A and I1 is 1.1 A, what is the
+ current through bulb 2?
V C
- 3 3.2

Figure 17

31. Circuits in Series The wire at point C is broken and a small resistor is inserted in series
with bulbs 2 and 3. What happens to the brightness of the two identical bulbs? Explain.
They both dim since the potential difference will decrease

32. Battery Voltage A voltmeter connected across bulb 2 measures 3.8 V, and a voltmeter
connected across bulb 3 measures 4.2 V. What is the potential difference across the
battery?
To determine the potential difference across the battery in a series circuit, you can
add up the voltages measured across each component (bulb) in the circuit.

Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.

In yourUsing
33. Circuits case,information
you have from
two measurements:
the previous problem, determine whether
bulbs 2 and 3 are identical.
1. Voltage across bulb 2: 3.8 V
To
2. determine whether
Voltage across bulbbulbs
3: 4.22 V
and 3 are identical, we can compare their resistances. In a series circ

To find the total potential difference across the battery, simply add these values
together:
34. Circuit Protection Describe three common safety devices associated with household
wiring.
Total Voltage (Battery Voltage) = Voltage across bulb 2 + Voltage across bulb 3
Total Voltage
Three common=safety
3.8 V devices
+ 4.2 V associated with household wiring are:
Total Voltage = 8 V

So, the potential difference across the battery is 8 volts.

35. Critical Thinking How could you rearrange the circuit to make the three identical
bulbs in Figure 17 burn with equal intensity? Is there more than one way to do this?
To make the three identical bulbs in Figure 17 burn with equal intensity, you can rearrange the circu

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