Parallel Circuits and Series Circuits

Cards (24)

  • Parallel Circuit

    • Power source and all components in multiple, separate loops
    • Two or more paths for electrons to follow
  • Voltage in a parallel circuit
    Voltage across each pathway is the same as the voltage from the power source
  • Voltage in a parallel circuit when switch is closed
    Voltmeters at each location will read the same voltage (6V)
  • Adding batteries in parallel

    Has no effect on the total voltage because each electron in the circuit only passes through 1 battery
  • Current in a parallel circuit

    Current coming out of the energy source is split/spread out to each pathway, then rejoins before returning to the energy source
  • Current in a parallel circuit when switch is closed
    Ammeter readings: 0.2A, 0.1A, 4A, 0.2A, 0.1A
  • Resistance in a parallel circuit
    Total resistance decreases when more loads are added
  • We will NOT calculate the total resistance in a parallel circuit
  • Electrons need a complete circuit to flow around and transfer energy to components
  • Series circuit

    • Components connected in 1 path
  • Parallel circuit
    • Components attached in many paths
  • If a series circuit is broken
    Current will stop flowing and all components will stop working
  • If a parallel circuit is broken

    Current will still flow through the other paths, so not all components will stop working
  • If a switch is wired in series
    It can only complete/break the flow of electrons to everything at once (all on or all off)
  • If a switch is wired in parallel

    It can complete/break the flow of electrons to components on 1 path without affecting the others (each is controlled separately)
  • Voltage in a series circuit
    Total voltage from the energy source is divided between all loads
  • Voltage in a parallel circuit

    Voltage is the same everywhere (same as energy source)
  • Adding batteries in series
    Increases total voltage because each electron passes through them and gets multiple "pushes"
  • Adding batteries in parallel
    Does not affect total voltage because each electron only passes through 1 battery (only gets "pushed" once)
  • Current in a series circuit
    Current is the same everywhere
  • Current in a parallel circuit
    Current leaves energy source and splits/rejoins at junctions between paths
  • Series vs. Parallel Resistance simulation available
  • Resistance in a series circuit

    Total resistance increases as more loads are added, calculated by adding the resistances together
  • Resistance in a parallel circuit

    Total resistance decreases as more loads are added, we will not calculate the total resistance