2.3 D.C Circuits

currents and potential differences in series and parallel circuits two electric circuit laws.

Current in a series circuit

In a series circuit, the electric current is the same at every point in the circuit.

voltage law in a series circuit

the sum of potential difference across thew components in a series circuit is equal to the potential difference in the cell.

why is P.d conserved in series.

because of the conservation of energy and pd = w/Q

Potentail difference in a parallel circuit

The Pd across components connected in parallel are equal.

Current law (parallel)

the current from a source is equal to the sum of currents in the separate branches of a parallel circuit.

why is current conserved in parallel

because of the conservation law of charge.

resistors in series

R1 + R2 … =R total

resistors in parallel

1/R1 + 1/R2 … = 1/Rtotal