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

\(\swarrow\)

\(\searrow\)

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