💡 Quick Study Guide: Series & Parallel Circuits
- 🔗 Series Circuits:
- ➡️ Current (I): Stays the same throughout the entire circuit.
- ⬇️ Voltage (V): Divides across each component ($V_{total} = V_1 + V_2 + V_3 + ...$).
- ➕ Total Resistance ($R_{total}$): Is the sum of individual resistances ($R_{total} = R_1 + R_2 + R_3 + ...$).
- 🚫 Consequence: If one component fails (e.g., a bulb burns out), the entire circuit breaks, and current stops flowing.
- ↔️ Parallel Circuits:
- विभाजन Current (I): Divides among the different branches ($I_{total} = I_1 + I_2 + I_3 + ...$).
- ⬆️ Voltage (V): Stays the same across all parallel branches.
- 🔢 Total Resistance ($R_{total}$): Calculated by the reciprocal of the sum of reciprocals ($\frac{1}{R_{total}} = \frac{1}{R_1} + \frac{1}{R_2} + \frac{1}{R_3} + ...$).
- ✅ Consequence: If one component fails, the other branches continue to operate independently.
- ⚖️ Ohm's Law (Applies to both):
- ⚡ Formula: $V = IR$ (Voltage = Current $\times$ Resistance). This fundamental law relates voltage, current, and resistance in any part of a circuit or for the entire circuit.
🧠 Practice Quiz: Series & Parallel Circuits
1. What is a defining characteristic of a series circuit?
- A) The voltage is the same across all components.
- B) The total current is the sum of currents in each component.
- C) The total resistance is the sum of individual resistances.
- D) Removing one component does not affect the others.
2. In a parallel circuit, what remains constant across all branches?
- A) Current
- B) Resistance
- C) Voltage
- D) Power
3. Three resistors with values of 2 $\Omega$, 3 $\Omega$, and 5 $\Omega$ are connected in series. What is the total resistance of the circuit?
- A) 1 $\Omega$
- B) 2.5 $\Omega$
- C) 10 $\Omega$
- D) 30 $\Omega$
4. Two resistors, 4 $\Omega$ and 12 $\Omega$, are connected in parallel. What is the equivalent resistance?
- A) 3 $\Omega$
- B) 8 $\Omega$
- C) 16 $\Omega$
- D) 48 $\Omega$
5. If one bulb in a series circuit of three identical bulbs burns out, what happens to the other two bulbs?
- A) They shine brighter.
- B) They continue to shine as before.
- C) They also go out.
- D) They shine dimmer.
6. What happens if one branch of a parallel circuit with three branches (each containing a light bulb) is opened?
- A) All other bulbs go out.
- B) The other bulbs shine brighter.
- C) The other bulbs remain lit with the same brightness.
- D) The overall voltage of the circuit increases.
7. A 12V battery powers a circuit with two 6 $\Omega$ resistors connected in series. What is the total current flowing from the battery?
- A) 0.5 A
- B) 1 A
- C) 2 A
- D) 12 A
Click to see Answers
- 1. C
- 2. C
- 3. C
- 4. A
- 5. C
- 6. C
- 7. B