series and parallel

• Series circuit


  All components are in the same loop
• Adding components to a series circuit

  Put them in the same loop of wire
• Series circuit


  • Not very useful because if one component breaks, none of the other components work
• Parallel circuit


  Components are in different loops which we call branches
• Adding components to a parallel circuit


  Add a second loop of wire and put the component in its own branch
• Parallel circuit


  • If one component in one branch breaks, the components in the other branches will still work
• Controlling components in a parallel circuit

  Put a switch in each branch to turn components on or off
• Current in a series circuit

  The current is the same everywhere in the circuit
• Current in a parallel circuit

  The current is shared between the branches
• Changing components in a series circuit

  The current may be different, but the rule is the same - the current is the same everywhere in the circuit
• Changing components in a parallel circuit

  The current is shared unequally between the branches, but the total current is the sum of the branch currents
• Potential difference in a series circuit

  The potential difference is shared between components
• Potential difference in a series circuit with different components

  The potential difference may be shared unequally, but the total will equal the potential difference of the cell/battery
• Potential difference in a parallel circuit

  The potential difference across each component is the same as the potential difference across the cell/battery