Series and Parallel Circuits

Series and Parallel Circuits

Series Equivalent Circuit

• The equivalent resistance for any number of resistors in series connection is the sum of each individual resistor.

• Apparently the single equivalent resistor is always larger than the largest resistor in the series connection.
• Series resistors carry the same current thru them.
• Voltage across each of the resistors obtained using voltage divider rule principle or Ohm’s law.

• The equivalent resistance for any number of resistors in parallel connection is obtained by taking the reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocal of each single resistor in the circuit.

• Apparently, the single equivalent resistor is always smaller than the smallest resistor in the parallel connection.
• Voltage across each resistor must be the same.
• Currents thru each of them are divided according to the current divider rule principle.