Lesson 2: Series and Parallel Circuit

Series Circuit and Parallel Circuit

Two types of circuit

Series Circuit

Contains more than one electrical component connected one after the other in a single path.

Broken series circuit

A condition where the circuit is interrupted at any point, stopping the flow of current entirely.

Current in series circuit

There is only one path where current can flow and the same in all parts. Calculated using the formula:

𝑰𝑻 = 𝑰𝟏 = 𝑰𝟐 = 𝑰𝟑 ...

Voltage in series circuit

The sum of the potential difference across
individual components is equal to the potential difference across the entire circuit. Calculated using the formula:

𝑽𝑻 = 𝑽𝟏 + 𝑽𝟐 + 𝑽𝟑 ...

Resistance in series circuit

As more resistors are added in series, the
equivalent resistance increases. Calculated using the formula:

𝑹𝑻 = 𝑹𝟏 + 𝑹𝟐 + 𝑹𝟑 ...

Parallel Circuit

• Contains two or more electrical component connected across each other in such a way that the current is distributed between them.

• Each component operates independently of the others.

Broken parallel circuit

A condition where one branch is interrupted, stopping current flow only in that path while the other branches continue to function.

Current in parallel circuit

Current is distributed between each components. Calculated using the formula:

𝑰𝑻 = 𝑰𝟏 + 𝑰𝟐 + 𝑰𝟑 ...

Voltage in parallel circuit

The potential difference across all the resistors is the same as that across any resistor. Calculated using the formula:

𝑽𝑻 = 𝑽𝟏 = 𝑽𝟐 = 𝑽𝟑 ...

Resistance in parallel circuit

The total resistance decreases as more resistors are added because the current has multiple paths to flow through, calculated using the formula:

1/Rt = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3…