Series and Parallel Circuits

Circuits
In order for electricity to flow we need
Power source
Closed circuit

There are two type of circuits we will

explore
Series circuit
Parallel circuit
 Series Circuit
In a series circuit there is only one path for
the electrons to flow
In other words all the components are in
series with each other

Because there is only one path each

charge will go through each resistor
 Predict, Test and Explain

• How will the brightness of the bulbs change

as we add more in series?

+ + +

• What does this imply about the current in the

circuit?
 Parallel Circuit
 In a Parallel circuit there are multiple pathways for
charge to flow
Each device is placed on it’s own separate branch

 Current goes through each of the branches at the same

time
 Predict, Test and Explain

• How will the brightness of the bulbs change

as we add more in parallel?

+ + +

• What does this imply about the current in the

circuit?
 Key Concepts
Bulbs in series represent a source of
resistance to current flow, similar to
boulders in a stream which can block
the flow of water
Bulbs in parallel offer additional
pathways for current flow, similar to
branches of a stream which can carry
more water.
 Calculating Resistance in Series
Circuits
The rule for
calculating Series
Circuits is to…
Add up the values of
each individual in the
series.
R1 + R2 + R3…
5 + 5 + 10
20 Ω (ohms)
 Calculating Resistance in Series
Circuits
Add up the values of
each individual in the
series.
R1 + R2 + R3…
10 + 20 + 10 10
40 Ω (ohms)

20
 Calculating Resistance in Series
Circuits
 The rule for calculating Series
Circuits is to…
 Add up the values of each
individual in the series.
 1    1     1   1 
-- = -- + -- + --   1
Rt   R1   R2   R3
-- = 1
 1    1    1    1 
-- = -- + -- + --  Rt
Rt   4    4     2
 1
 1 -- = Rt
-- = .25 + .25 + .5  1
Rt
 1  Rt = 1 Ω (ohms)
-- = 1
Rt
20
 1
-- = 1
Rt
 Calculating Resistance in Series
•
Circuits
The rule for calculating Series
Circuits is to…
• Add up the values of each
individual in the series.
• 1    1     1   1 
-- = -- + -- + --  • 1
Rt   R1   R2   R3
-- = Rt
• 1    1    1 1 
-- = -- + -- + --  .016
Rt  100   200     1000
• Rt = 62.5 Ω
• 1 (ohms)
-- = .01 + .005 + .001 
Rt 1000
• 1 100 200
-- = .016
Rt
20
• 1
-- = .016
Rt