Series circuits

From High School Online Collaborative Writing

This is a closed series circuit with 3 resistors.

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A series circuit is otherwise known as a “no-choice” circuit because the current has no option as to where to go. All current must go through every segment of the closed circuit, which means it must go through every included device. connected to a battery.

[edit] Resistors

A Series Circuit usually has at least one resistor, a battery, and a Voltmeter and/or an Ammeter. If there are multiple resistors, the current must go through all of them.

[edit] Each individually

Since we already know that V = IR (Ohm’s law), we know that Vtotal = (Itotal)(Rtotal). However in a series circuit you must be able to find each of these components individually. To find the total voltage, you must first examine the quantity of voltage that flows through each resistor.

Since the total Voltage is the sum of the voltages in each resistor, Voltage is different in each resistor. Therefore, Vtotal = V1 + V2 + V3 + …

[edit] Current

The current that runs through a circuit is constant in all the resistors, unlike voltage. The equation for finding the total current is the easiest one: I total = I 1 = I 2 = I3…..

[edit] Total resistance

Like Voltage, the total resistance is the sum of all the resistors. Therefore, R total = R 1 + R2 …..