Series and Parallel Circuits

• Electrical components can be connected in series or parallel
• In a series circuit , the total potential difference of the power supply is shared between the components - In the image below , the total potential difference of the power supply is shared between 2 bulbs (or lamps)

  
• In the image below, the series circuit uses 2 bulbs instead of 1. Why would the 2 bulbs in this circuit be dimmer than a singular bulb in the same circuit?


  The total energy carried by the current has been shared between the 2 bulbs - When you have 2 bulbs in series , the energy shared between them, which causes them to be dimmer (Because they recieve less energy)

  
• In the image of the series circuit below, the total potential difference across the cell is the same as the total potential difference across the bulbs

  
• In the exam question below, why do the hair straighteners NOT turn on when only switch S₂ is closed?

  S₁ needs to be closed for the hair straighteners to turn on (You could also say that there is a gap in the circuit)

  
• In the exam question below, explain what happens to the power output of the power supply when S₂ and S₃ are closed at the same time?

  When S₂ and S₃ are closed at the same time, the total resistance of the circuit decreases - So the current increases - This increases the power output