series

• circuit conclusions in series


  potential difference is provided by cells

  current depends on PD and resistance V=IR

  more lamps = more resistance

  more cells, same lamps, more current

  more lamps in series, same cells, less current

  adding resistors in series just adds up

  Rt = R1+R2+R3

  same PD, more resistance
• resistance rule for components in series 


  adding more resistors in series increases the total resistance of the circuit . this is because the potential difference is shared between more resistors, and as a result the potential difference across each of them is less than before, and as the total potential difference is unchanged, the total resistance is therefore larger.
• potential difference in series

  in series, potential difference is shared between lamps and provided by cells.
• if one component is removed or disconnected, the circuit is broken and all components stop. this is why few practical circuits are connected in series
• in a series circuits, there is a bigger potential difference when more cells are in series, provided that the cells are connected in the same way.
• in a series circuit, the total potential difference is shared among the various components so the potential differences of each component add up to the total potential difference of the sources
• current is the same throughout a series circuit. the size of the current is determined by the total potential difference and the total resistance.
• in a series circuit the total resistance is the sum of the resistance of the components.
• in a series circuit, current is the same everywhere so current is reduced when a resistor is added while the resistance of the circuit increases.
• the bigger a components resistance in series, the bigger its potential difference