Chapter 7:

Electricity

Part 3: Series and Parallel Circuits

Series Circuits
m o re re s isto rs
W h en two or

Connected one en
d after another

To form a single path for current flow

Series Circuits
r en c e fro m th e
Potenti al d iff e
e r y is s h a re d
batt

Therefore each bulb glows dimly

  
Series Circuits
h b ulb i s s am e
nt fl ow of e a c
Curre

Therefore brightness of each bulb is

the same

  
Series Circuits
w he n o ne bu lb
i s b ro ken
The circuit
is removed

And the other bulbs go out as well

  
Parallel Circuits
a re con ne c te d
m pon e nt s
All co

With their corresp

onding
ends joined togeth
er

To form separate and parallel

paths for current flow
Parallel Circuits
Each bulb is connected
directly to the battery

Thus each bulb glo
ws
brightly 
Because each bulb gets the
full potential difference 
Parallel Circuits

Each bulb has a hig
he r
brightness 
Than each bulb in a series
circuit 
Parallel Circuits
The circuit remains unbroken

If one bulb is remo
ved 
So the other two bulbs will
remain to work 
Compare the Circuits’ Current
Series Circuit Parallel Circuit

A X
A1
3Ω

X Y Y
A1 A2 A2
3Ω 1Ω 1Ω
Current has only one path to flow Current splits into different paths
Reading on A1 = Reading on A2 Reading on A = Reading on A1 + A2

Same current flows through each Main current is shared between the
resistors two resistors
Compare the Circuits’ Potential Difference
Series Circuit Parallel Circuit

X Y V1
X 3Ω
3Ω 1Ω

V1 V2 Y 1Ω

V V2

Reading on V = Reading of V1 + V2 Reading on V1 = Reading on V2

Potential Difference is shared by the Potential difference is the same

two resistors across each resistor
Compare the Circuits
Series Circuit Parallel Circuit

 

When one bulb has blown up When one bulb has blown up

The other bulb would not be able to The other bulb can still light up
light up
Compare the Circuits
Series Circuit Parallel Circuit

  
Dimmer bulbs Brighter bulbs

Less voltage across each bulb Higher voltage across each bulb

Less current pass through each bulb Larger current pass through each
bulb
 Determining Effective Resistance
Series Circuit Parallel Circuit
I1 R1 I2 R2 I3 R3
I
R1 V1 R2 V2 R3 V3
V1 V2 V3 V

V I1 I2 I3

I
Current
𝐼 = 𝐼 1= 𝐼 2 = 𝐼 3 𝐼 = 𝐼 1+ 𝐼 2 + 𝐼 3
Potential
Difference 𝐼 = 𝐼 1= 𝐼 2 = 𝐼 3

Resistance 1 1 1 1
+ + =
𝑅1 𝑅2 𝑅3 𝑅