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What are the two ways of joining electrical components in a circuit?
Electrical components can be connected in series or parallel.
What happens to the current in a series circuit?
In a series circuit, the same current flows through each component.
How is the potential difference distributed in a series circuit?
The total potential difference of the power supply is shared between the components.
What is the equation for total resistance in a series circuit?
The total resistance Rtotal is the sum of the resistances of each component:
Rtotal=R1+R2
Where R is in ohms (Ω).
What happens to the potential difference in a parallel circuit?
In a parallel circuit, the potential difference across each component is the same.
How is the total current distributed in a parallel circuit?
The total current through the whole circuit is the sum of the currents through the separate components.
What is the relationship between the total resistance and individual resistances in a parallel circuit?
The total resistance of two resistors in parallel is less than the resistance of the smallest individual resistor.
Why does adding resistors in series increase the total resistance?
Adding resistors in series increases the total resistance because the current has to pass through each resistor, increasing opposition to the flow.
Why does adding resistors in parallel decrease the total resistance?
Adding resistors in parallel decreases the total resistance because it provides multiple paths for the current, reducing the overall opposition to the flow.
What is the main feature of a DC series circuit in measurement and testing?
In a DC series circuit, the current is the same at all points in the circuit, making it useful for testing how components affect the flow of current.
How is potential difference used in DC series circuits for testing?
In a DC series circuit, the total potential difference of the power supply is divided among the components, allowing measurement of voltage across individual components.
Why are DC series circuits useful for testing resistors?
DC series circuits are useful for testing resistors because the total resistance is the sum of individual resistances, making it easier to analyze how each resistor impacts the circuit's overall resistance.
What is a key advantage of using DC series circuits in testing setups?
A key advantage of DC series circuits in testing is that they provide consistent current through all components, allowing for precise measurement of how each component behaves under a known current.
How can you test for component failure using a DC series circuit?
In a DC series circuit, if one component fails (e.g., an open circuit in one resistor), the entire circuit stops conducting, making it easy to identify malfunctioning parts.
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