Series and parallel circuits

Series and parallel circuits

By Betty Nagy

Multiple Choice

Which one, top or bottom, offers more resistance?

• top

• bottom

• neihter

Series Circuits

•Current can only travel through one path

•Current is the same through all parts of the circuit.

•The sum of the voltages of each component of the circuit must equal the battery.

•The equivalent resistance of a series circuit is the sum of the individual resistances.

Subject | Subject

Multiple Choice

In a series circuit which of the following is the same  throughout the circuit

• Resistance

• Voltage

• Current

• None of the above

Multiple Choice

To find the total resistance in a series circuit, __________.

• multiply the individual resistances

• add the individual resistances

• average the resistances

• subtract the individual resistances

Multiple Choice

Q. The equivalent resistance in this circuit is 

• 18 $$k\Omega$$  

• 200 $$\Omega$$  

• 18 $$\Omega$$  

• 6 $$k\Omega$$  

Open Ended

Find the equivalent (total) resistance of the circuit

Find the total current supplied by the battery

Find Voltage Drop across each resistor.

Parallel Circuits

•Current splits into “branches” so there is more than one path that current can take

•Voltage is the same across each branch

•Currents in each branch add to equal the total current through the battery​

Subject | Subject

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a formula for calculating total resistance in a parallel circuit?

• $$R_T=V_TI_T$$  

• $$\frac{1}{R}=\frac{1}{R_1}+\frac{1}{R_2}+\frac{1}{R_3}$$  

• $$R=R_1+R_2+R_3$$  

Multiple Choice

In a parallel circuit if one of the light bulbs burns out the rest _________.

• stop the flow of electricity

• will go out

• can still light up

• of the light bulbs burn out also

Multiple Choice

Does this statement best describe a parallel or a series circuit. When more light bulbs are added they all remain bright. 

• Parallel circuit

• Series circuit

Multiple Choice

Four unequal resistors are connected in a parallel with each other. Which one of the following statements is correct about this combination?

• The equivalent resistance is midway between the largest and smallest resistance.

• The equivalent resistance is equal to the average of the four resistances.

• The equivalent resistance is less than that of the smallest resistor.

• The equivalent resistance is more than the largest resistance.

• None of the other choices is correct.

Multiple Choice

If we have several light bulbs connected to a battery in parallel...

• The voltage will be the same across each bulb

• the current will be the same across each bulb

• The current will be the same through each bulb

• The resistance will be the same across each bulb

Multiple Choice

The equivalent resistance of the resistors in the above circuit is given by :

• 625 ohms

• 100ohms

• 10kohms

• 13kohms

Multiple Choice

What is the total resistance of five 5000 ohms in parallel?

• 200 ohms

• 15000 ohms

• 2500 ohms

• 1000 ohms

Open Ended

Find the total resistance of the circuit.

Find the total current from the battery.

Find the current through each resistor.

Check currents to see if the answers follow the pattern for current.

Fill in the Blank

Find total resistance first (2d.p.)

------ $$\Omega$$  

Open Ended

Solve for all the unknown quantities