Series and Parallel Circuits Flashcards
What is the difference between a series circuit and a parallel circuit?
In a series circuit, we only have a single loop, and the components are all connected one after the other.
In a parallel circuit, there is more than one loop.
True or False?
The potential difference of a battery in a series circuit is *shared across all of the components**.
True
What is the equation to show the potential difference of a battery in a series circuit is *shared across all of the components**?
Vtotal = V1 + V2 + V3…
This just shows that the total voltage is equal to the voltages across all of the individual components.
True or False?
Current is different everywhere in a circuit.
False
Current is the same everywhere in a circuit.
What is current measured using?
An ammeter
You place this anywhere in the series circuit.
What is the equation to calculate the current of a series circuit?
I = V/R
You divide the total potential difference by the total resistance.
This is also a rearranged version of Ohm’s Law.
How do you figure out the total resistance in a series circuit?
Total Resistance = ∑ Individual Resistances of Each Component
How do you calculate the voltage across a single component?
V = IR
Voltage = Charge x Resistance
This is also called Ohm’s Law.
In series circuits, will components with a greater resistance always have a higher or lower share of the voltage?
Components with a greater resistance will always have a higher share of the voltage.
In parallel circuits, how many components will each loop contain?
1
In parallel circuits, how do we show with an equation that all of the components get their full source potential difference?
Vtotal = V1 = V2 = V3…
This just means that all of the components will have the same voltage as the battery.
In parallel circuits, current is shared between all of the loops. How do we show this with an equation?
Itotal = I1 = I2 + I3…
Each loop together will always add up to the total of the circuit.
In parallel circuits, will loops that have a greater resistance always take a higher or lower share of the current?
Loops that have a greater resistance always take a lower share of the current.
In parallel circuits, what happens to the resistance when we add more components?
More components in parallel = Lower total resistance
