Monterey, Brian M.

III-25 BTLE-ICT

Industrial Arts 1

Activity: Series and Parallel Circuit

Task 1: In a SERIES circuit, certain general rules may be stated with regard to quantities of
voltage, current, resistance, and power. Express these rules, using your own words:

Potential Difference in Voltage:

● The total voltage across all components in a series circuit is equal to the sum of
the individual voltages across each component.
● The voltage drop across each component adds up to the total applied voltage.

Current:

● In a series circuit, every component experiences the same amount of current

flow.
● Any individual component's current passing through it adds up to the circuit's
overall current.

Resistance:

● The sum of the individual resistances of all the components in a series circuit is
the total resistance.
● As more resistors are connected in series, the circuit's overall resistance rises.

Power:

● Each component's voltage and resistance in a series circuit dictate how much
power it uses.
● The sum of the powers used by all of the components makes up the circuit's
overall power.

These guidelines emphasize that current flows through the circuit continuously while voltage
and resistance build up. They also highlight the additive nature of several electrical
characteristics in a series circuit.
Task 2: In a parallel circuit, certain general rules may be stated with regard to quantities of
voltage, current, resistance, and power. Express these rules, using your own words:

In a parallel circuit, voltage:

● Rule: In a parallel circuit, the voltage across every branch (or component) is the same.
● To put it another way, every branch in a parallel circuit is linked directly across the
voltage source. Every branch has the same potential difference, or voltage, as a result of
this direct connection. Regardless of the quantity or kind of components connected in
parallel, this is true.

In a parallel circuit, current:

● Rule: The sum of the currents passing through each individual branch determines the
total current entering a parallel circuit.
● The explanation is as follows: in a parallel circuit, all of the branches offer different paths
for current to flow, but the voltage across them is the same. Ohm's Law (I = V/R) states
that because resistance varies and voltage remains constant, the current flowing
through each branch can vary. The total current flowing through all of the parallel
branches makes up the total current entering the parallel circuit.

In a parallel circuit, resistance:

● Rule: In a parallel circuit, the reciprocal of each resistance added together is the
reciprocal of the total resistance.
● Justification: Every branch in a parallel circuit offers a unique route for current flow.
Consequently, the circuit's total resistance drops. Ohm's Law, which states that
resistance (R) is inversely proportional to current (1/R = I/V), gives rise to the reciprocal
connection. The total resistance of the circuit is essentially reduced by adding more
branches in parallel.

In a parallel circuit, power:

● Rule: The sum of the powers used by each individual branch in a parallel circuit equals
the overall power consumed by the circuit.
● Justification: Power is equal to the product of current and voltage (P = IV). All of the
branches in a parallel circuit have the same voltage, but the current may differ. The
overall power in the circuit is the sum of the powers used by each individual branch
because power is cumulative.

In conclusion, the special arrangement of components in a parallel circuit permits various

current pathways while preserving a constant voltage across all branches, which in turn
determines the properties of voltage, current, resistance, and power in the circuit.
References:

https://www.swtc.edu/Ag_Power/electrical/lecture/series_circuits.htm

https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/reference/chpt-1/series-circuit-rules/#:~:text

https://iastate.pressbooks.pub/electriccircuits/chapter/chapter-3-circuit-topology-and-laws

https://www.swtc.edu/Ag_Power/electrical/lecture/parallel_circuits.html