13.10: How Series and Parallel Circuits Differ pg. 571 Key Concepts:
5. Connecting loads in series and parallel affects the current, potential difference, and total resistance.
- Using your knowledge of current, voltage and resistance, you can predict patterns within circuits.
Loads in Series
- A series circuit has only one path in which the electrons can flow. - Potential difference occurs instantaneously once current begins to flow. Current through Loads in Series
- The current flow in a series circuit with one load is greater then a circuit with two loads.
- As more loads are added there is an increase in the total resistance of the circuit.
Sample Problem: Comparing the Current in Two Series Circuits
The same type of lamp is used in two series circuits. The first circuit has two identical lamps (Figure 2). The second circuit has three identical lamps (Figure 3). The potential difference across the battery is 10 V. The circuit with two lamps has a resistance 0f 10 Ω. The circuit that has three lamps has a total resistance of 15 Ω. Use the total resistance given to calculate the current through each circuit.
Voltage across Loads in Series
- A battery contains potential energy. It converts chemical potential energy into electrical energy.
- As electrons leave the battery and enter a circuit it creates current. - As electrons pass through the circuit potential energy is converted to kinetic energy.
- A circuit with one lamp, the potential energy is converted to light or heat energy.
- With one load the voltage drop across the load will be equal to the voltage across the battery.
- A circuit with two lamps, the energy leaving the battery is equal to its potential energy.
- With two lamps, only have of the potential energy is converted to light or heat.
- The voltage will drop across each lamp.
- The total voltage drop across the each identical load is equal to the voltage drop across the battery.
V load = V source
# of loads
Sample Problem: Calculating Voltage in Series Circuit
A series circuit contains three identical lamps (Figure 4). The potential difference of the battery is 30 V. Calculate the potential difference across each lamp.
Loads in Parallel
- In a parallel circuit there is more then one path for electrons to flow. Current through Loads in Parallel
- When two identical loads are connected in a parallel circuit, the current will split in two.
- When three identical loads are connected in a parallel circuit, the current will be divided into thirds.
- Mathematical Equation used to calculate current through a load within a parallel circuit.
I load = I source
# of loads
Sample Problem: Calculating Current in Parallel Circuit
The total resistance in the circuit in Figure 5 (b) is 2 Ω. The potential difference of the battery is 18 V. Calculate the current through each lamp. (Calculate current first)
Figure 5(b)
Voltage across Loads in Parallel
- The resistance in loads connected in parallel is less then a series circuit with the same number and type of loads.
- Since there are more then one path for electrons to follow there is less resistance across the load in any one path.
Sample Problem: Calculating the Voltage in a Parallel Circuit
A parallel circuit contains three identical lamps (Figure 6). The current
coming out of the energy source is 2.5 A. The total resistance of the circuit is 6.0 Ω. Calculate the voltage across the energy source and across each lamp.
Figure 6
Resistance, Current, and Voltage in Circuits
Table 1: The relationships of Loads in Series and Parallel Circuits
Quantity Series Circuit Parallel Circuit
Total resistance of circuit (RT)
Increases decreases
Current through loads (I
load)
I source decreases as
more loads are added
I source splits among
loads based on the number of branches in parallel
Voltage across loads (V
load)
V source splits based on
the number of loads
Voltage of each parallel branch is the same as V
Evidence of Learning …. Students can
- describe how lamps or loads can be placed in a series circuit and parallel circuit.
- explain that the current in a series circuit flows though one circuit and lessens as the loads are increased.
- understand that the current in a parallel circuit flows through many different paths.
- understand that the more identical loads that are connected in series, the voltage drop across each load decrease.
- understand that the voltage drop across a parallel load will be the same as the voltage drop across the battery.
Check Your Learning Questions 1 – 7, page 575 Summary:
- In parallel circuit, the total resistance is less than if the loads were connected in series.
- The more loads that are connected in series, the lower the current will be in the circuit.
- The more loads that are connected in parallel, the lower the current will be through each branch.
- In a series circuit with identical loads, the voltage drop across the energy source is split equally among the loads.
