Series and parallel circuits

Cards (8)

Features of a series circuit
closed
current only flows a single path
current is the same everywhere
total resistance = R1 + R2 ...
features of a parallel circuit
branches
current split to multiple paths
total current into a junction = total current in each of the branches
potential difference the same across each branch
how is potential difference varied in a series circuit
potential difference is shared across whole circuit
PD of power supply = sum of PD across each component
how is current varied in a series circuit
current is the same through all parts
why is the resistance of two components bigger then just one
the charge has to push through both of them
how is potential difference varied in a parallel circuit
the same across all branches
PD of power supply = PD of each branch
how is current varied in a parallel circuit
current in shared between each branch
current through source = sum of current through each branch
will two resistors in parallel have a higher overall resistance than just one
no - the charge has more than one branch to take , some charge will flow along each branch