Flow of Electric Current in a Series Circuit and Paralell Circuit

 

7.2   Flow of Electric Current in a Series Circuit and Paralell Circuit
 
Electric circuit
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Series Circuit Parallel Circuit

Series Circuit
  • Series circuit is made up of electrical components that are connected one after another where the current flows through in a single path 
 

Current,Voltage and Resistance in a Series Circuit

  • Current\(,I = I_1 = I_2\)
  • Voltage\(,V = V_1 + V_2\)
  • Resistance\(,R = R_1 +R_2\)
 

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Series Circuit

 
Advantage Disadvantage

 * Energy component in the circuit receives the same amount of current

 * Every component is controlled by the same switch

 * Increase in voltage supplies more electric current

 * When one of the electrical appliances is damaged, other electrical appliances cease to function

 * Adding more electrical appliances increases resistance and decreases the flow of the current

 * Each electrical appliance cannot be switched off  individually


Parallel Circuit
  • Parallel circuit is separated into several different path of electrical circuit and each parallel path has electrical components
 

Current,Voltage and Resistance in a Parallel Circuit

  • Current\(,I = I_1 + I_2\)
  • Voltage\(,V = V_1 = V_2\)
  • Resistance\(,\dfrac{1}{R} = \dfrac{1}{R_1} +\dfrac{1}{R_2}\)
 

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Parallel Circuit

Advantage Disadvantage

 * Every electrical appliance can be switched on or off separatedly

 * The increase in the number of electrical appliances does not affect the function of other appliances in the same circuit

 * The voltage for every electrical appliance cannot be adjusted because the voltage is the same as the source of voltage