CIRCUITS: Series

& Parallel
Last Week’s BIG IDEAS:
• Opposite
charged objects
_____
attract
• Like charged
objects ____
repel
Last Week’s BIG IDEAS:

• The ______
electrons are the
“loose” particles that
move to make things
charged not the
protons. Protons are
locked in more solid
relationships in the
nucleus and don’t “get
around”.
Last Week’s BIG IDEAS:

• The attractive force

between particles/objects
depends on the amount of
charge (in Coulombs) the
______
objects have and the
distance (in m) between
________
the two particles/objects.
• The above relationship is
Coulomb’s Law
called ___________
and is given by:
𝒒𝟏 ∙𝒒𝟐
Fe = k 𝟐
𝒓
Last Week’s BIG IDEAS:
Coulomb’s Law of Newton’s Law of Universal
attraction: Gravitation
____________
𝒒𝟏 ∙𝒒𝟏 𝒎𝟏 ∙𝒎𝟐
Fe = k Fg = G
𝒓𝟐 𝒓𝟐
Is a lot
For the eensy-beensy like…
particles like atoms, for the “big” particles like
electrons, and planets.
protons

The only difference is that Newton’s Law is only attractive

attractive and
and Coulomb’s Law can be both ___________
repulsive
______________.
Last Week’s BIG IDEAS:
particles to some degree…
Planets behave like _________
Last Week’s BIG IDEAS:
Both Coulomb’s Law of
𝒒𝟏 ∙𝒒𝟏
attraction - Fe = k 𝟐
𝒓
and Newton’s Law of Universal
𝑚 ∙𝑚
Gravitation - Fg = G 1 2 2
𝑟
are examples of forces at a
distance
________________ (far
away) where the objects are
not touching and can be far
away.
These are different from
contact
____________ forces such
as friction, tension, force of
push or pull in which the
objects are in direct contact
with each other.
Voltage (Electric Potential Difference),
Current, and Resistance

What is this illustration showing? What does voltage do?

What does current (ampere) represent? And what does
resistance do?
VOLTAGE (ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE)
elastic potential
Electric potential energy is like ________
gravitational potential energy
energy and ______________

Higher GPE
Potential +
Energy

Lower
Potential
Energy
-
ELPE
EPE
VOLTAGE (ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE)
To cause movement of a charge, there must be an
difference between two
electric potential _______________
points in the electric circuit just as there could be a
water pressure between
difference in __________
two points in a plumbing system.
_______
VOLTAGE (ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE)
In the image below, there is more electrical “pressure” at the
6 V side of the battery than the 0 V side. Imagine that the 6
_____
negatively
V side is _________________ (-) charged and so electrons are
pushed away (like charges repel) through the circuit towards the
positively
side of the battery which is ____________________ (+) charged
attracted
to which the electrons are ________________(opposite charges
attract).

+
−
VOLTAGE (ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE)
two paths they
In this circuit the energetic electrons have _________
can go through. In the middle of each path is something that is
resisting
_______________ the flow of electrons and thus they struggle to
use up
get through. In the struggle they ____________some of their
heat
electrical energy which turns into light and ____________ energy.
work
The electrons are moving slower after the _______________ (in
Joules) they have performed.

DIRECTIONS:
Use the right
terms below in the +
blanks above −
WORD BANK
resisting two heat
Use up work
VOLTAGE (ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE)
Navy nuclear submarine crew that
Suppose there was a U. S. _______
just happened to be all guy sailors. They just got off their 3-month
repelled
tour on their boat and are ________________ from the sight of
each other. They are seeking out members of the opposite
sex
________and go down to the only two clubs on this small island
used
they are docked at to party-hardy. Once they’ve ___________ up
submarine
their energy they head back tired to their ___________________.

DIRECTIONS:
Use the right
terms below in the +
blanks above −
WORD BANK
sex submarine used
Navy repelled
VOLTAGE (ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE)
• For example, to push a
positively charged
Styrofoam pellet into a
positively charged
electric field requires
Potential energy work
__________ (a force
through a distance)
• The Styrofoam gains
Potential electrical potential
energy energy in the process
• Since like charges
repel the charged
_______,
Styrofoam moves away
from the Van de Graaf
generator converting
its electrical potential
kinetic
energy into ________
energy
VOLTAGE (ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE)
DIRECTIONS: Put the correct term in the correct blank below.
WORD BANK
random section
Prom speeds open
open
In an electrical circuit, while the switch is ____________:
• Free electrons (conducting electrons) are always moving in
random
________________________ motion.

speeds
• The random ________________ are at an order of 1,000,000 m/s.
• There is no net movement of charge across a cross
section
________________ of a wire. It is all back and forth and random.
Prom
• Its like the random movement of single kids dancing at ___________.
VOLTAGE (ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE)
closed
What occurs in a wire when the circuit switch is __________?
• An electric field is established instantaneously (at almost the speed of
light 3x108 m/s).
________,
• Free electrons, while still randomly moving, immediately begin
_______
drifting due to the electric field, resulting in a net flow of charge.
• They are like users who think have free will but are in fact
___________
being manipulated to move in certain directions.
• Average drift velocity is about 0.01cm/s. The effect of the manipulation
billions of them, like
on FB users is small but since there are ______________
electrons, the overall effect is large.
WORD BANK
users closed light free billions
VOLTAGE (ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE)
What occurs in a wire when the circuit switch is
closed and electricity begins to flow?
Much like a group of
students going to the
bus circle after
_______
school, they slowly drift out
at school in a messy but
deliberate pattern. The
electric field is kind of like
hall
__________monitors
telling students to go home
and get out of the building.

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/HBASE/electric/imgele/micohm.gif
VOLTAGE (ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE)
The electric potential V (or voltage) is the
potential for creating electric potential energy if a
charge is placed at a given point. It is defined as
the energy per unit charge:
𝑼𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒄
V =
𝒒
Where Uelec is the electric
potential energy (in Joules) and
q is the charge of an object in
Coulombs.
1 volt = 1 V = 1 Joule per Coulomb, = 1 J/C
An electric field exerts an electrical force FE on a charge q.
An electric potential V tells how much electrical energy Uelec
each charge q has.
VOLTAGE (ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE)

Another definition….

pressure
Voltage: Electrical “____________” that
pushes charges along a conducting
pathway.
Metric Unit for Voltage: Volt (V)
 high
Electric Charges always travel from a _________electrical
low pressure region.
pressure region to a _________
CURRENT
Electric Current: The flow of electrons through a conducting
electrons pass a given
pathway. It relates to how many __________________
place in a wire in one second.
Metric Unit for Current: 1 ampere (A) = 6.24 x 1018 e-/s

1 AMPERE of current carries about

electrons per second
RESISTANCE
resist
Resistance: The tendency of a substance to _________________
the flow of e-s.
Metric Unit: The force opposing e- movement is measured in
Ohms (Ω) .
RESISTANCE
All materials have some resistance, insulators have a
large amount of resistance, while conductors have very
little resistance . As e-s flow through material and collide
with atoms, electrical energy is converted into two forms
heat
of energy: ____________ light
and ____________ .
RESISTANCE

The electricity has two paths to flow through. The 10 Ohm

three times
resistor allows ________________ as many electrons/ions to
flow as the 30 Ohm resistor.
RESISTANCE

Variable resistor – The knob turning is applying variable

resistance to the circuit. This can be seen because the
light
______________- level of the LED is fluctuating. The
variable resistor is controlling the number of
electrons
_____________ (e-s) passing through the circuit, or, in
current
other words, the ______________ (in Amps).
CURRENT, VOLTAGE, & RESISTANCE
Make an analogy for voltage, resistance, and current like the
ones below…
Electrical
Circuits
Circuit Symbols:
Battery
Resistor
Light-bulb
Switch
Wire

DIRECTIONS: Draw lines from each term to

the corresponding item in the circuit diagram
at right
 Three general types of circuits:
DIRECTIONS: Put the correct term in the correct
blank below.

WORD BANK
Power source Short resistance
Closed current Open

Closed Circuit - There is a complete loop with wires going

from one side of the power source through a resistor(s) to the
other side of the ______________.
Open Circuit - There is not a complete loop for ________ to
flow.
Short Circuit - There is a complete loop, but it does not
contain any ___________ to the flow of electricity.
Three general types of circuits:
WORD BANK
Power source Short resistance
Closed current Open

Closed Circuit - There is a complete loop with wires

going from one side of the power source through a
resistor(s) to the other side of the ______________.
Open Circuit - There is not a complete loop for
________ to flow.
Short Circuit - There is a complete loop, but it does not
contain any ___________ to the flow of electricity.

Only Working
Circuit
 There are two ways to put
resistors into a circuit.

1. Resistors can be
in series
OR

2. Resistors can be
in parallel
Resistors in Series
Resistors are considered to be in series if the
current must go through all of the resistors in
order.
The current (amps) through all resistors in series
is the same.
The voltage across resistors in series may be
different
The rate of electron flow (or current) is
determined by which resistor?
Ans. The resistor with the largest amount of
ohms.
R2

R3
R1
Combining (adding) Resistors
Series Resistors

To find the total current just add up

the currents through each resistor:
R1
Itotal = I1 = I2 = I3
To find the total resistance, just add
R2 up the resistances of each resistor:
Req = Rtotal = R1 + R2 + R3

R3 Voltage is calculated with Ohm’s Law

𝑽
I =
Amps 𝑹
Q
Resistors in Parallel
Resistors are considered to be in parallel if the
current is shared between multiple resistors.
The current (amps) through all resistors in parallel
may be different.
The voltage across all parallel resistors is the same.
Will a resistor with a large resistance have more or
less current through it then a resistor with a small
resistance?

Ans. The resistor with a large

R1 R2 R3
resistance will have a smaller
current then the resistor with
the smaller resistance.
 Combining (adding) Resistors

Parallel Resistors
Current is calculated with
𝑽
Ohm’s Law: I =
𝑹

R1 R2 R3 Total resistance:
1 1 1 1
= + +
Rtotal R1 R2 R3
Vtotal = V1 = V2 = V3
Example 1: A circuit has three
resistors - an 8.0 W, 5.0 W and a 12
W resistor - in series along with a
24 V battery.

Draw the circuit.

Calculate the total resistance of the circuit.
Calculate the total current through the circuit.
What is the current through each resistor?
Calculate the voltage across each resistor.
P.O.D. 1: A circuit has three
resistors - a 6.0 W, a 4.0 W and a 9 W
resistor - in series along with a 36
V battery.

Draw the circuit.

Calculate the total resistance of the circuit.
Calculate the total current through the circuit.
What is the current through each resistor?
Calculate the voltage across each resistor.
Example 2: A circuit has three
resistors: 6.0 W, 4.0 W and a 12 W
resistors in parallel along with a 24
V battery.

Draw the circuit.

Calculate the total resistance of the circuit.
Calculate the total current through the circuit.
What is the voltage across each resistor?
Calculate the current across each resistor.
P.O.D. 2: A circuit has three
resistors: 4.0 W, 6.0 W and a 8 W
resistors in parallel along with a 30
V battery.

Draw the circuit.

Calculate the total resistance of the circuit.
Calculate the total current through the circuit.
What is the voltage across each resistor?
Calculate the current across each resistor.
Electrical Outlets
Electrical outlets provide electric potential (or
the voltage) for any appliance plugged in to it.
In the United States ALL outlets provide 120 V
(in Europe it is 240 V)
Example 3: What will the current be if an
American-made 55 W light bulb is plugged in
to a 220 V power source?
• We have worked with Power before in our Energy Unit.
• It is measured in Watts
𝑾
• It was given by the formula P =
𝒕
• For electricity we have three alternative “shortcut”
formulas for Power based on what is given in the problem:
𝑽𝟐
P = I2R , P = IV , P =
𝑹
For this problem we use which one?
P = IV
𝑷
Solving for I… I =
𝑽
𝑷 𝟓𝟓 𝑾
SOLUTION: I = = =0.25 Amps
𝑽 𝟐𝟐𝟎 𝑽
P.O.D. 3: What will the resistance be if a
European-made 55 W light bulb is plugged in
to a 210 V power source? What about an
American-made 55 W light bulb?
MULTIPLE CHOICE: As more identical resistors R are added
to the parallel circuit shown, the total resistance between
points P and Q … R
1. Increases
2. Remains the same P Q
3. Decreases

…
MULTIPLE CHOICE: As more identical resistors R are added
to the parallel circuit shown, the total resistance between
points P and Q …
1. Increases 2. Remains the same 3. decreases

P Q

… Q
MULTIPLE CHOICE: When one bulb is unscrewed, the other
bulb will remain lit in which circuit…

1. I
2. II
3. Both
4. Neither Circuit II

Circuit I
MULTIPLE CHOICE: When one bulb is unscrewed, the other
bulb will remain lit in which circuit…

1. I 2. II 3. both 4. neither

Circuit I

Circuit II
 EXAMPLE 4: A 25W bulb and a 100W bulb are
connected in series. Which bulb will glow brighter?
25W 100W

120V
 The Light Bulbs are really Resistors
A) Calculate the resistance for each resistor shown.
B) Calculate the total resistance of the circuit.
C) Calculate the current through each resistor.
D) Calculate the power used by each resistor.
E) Calculate the voltage across each resistor.

25W 100W

120V
25W Bulb Part A. 100W Bulb

𝐕𝟐
2 P = formula for
is the
V 𝐑
P= electrical Power. Another
R formula for Power is
V2 P = IV
R=
P
2
120 1202
R= R=
25 100

R = 576W R = 144W
B) The total resistance (Rtotal)

25W 100W
576 W 144 W

120V

+ =
576 W + 144 W = 720 W
 C) Calculate the total circuit current (I)
720 W

120V

The current in a series circuit is the same throughout

V 120V
Use Ohm’s Law: I = = = 0.17amps
R 720W
D) Calculate the Power used by each resistor.

576 W 144 W

25 W Bulb 100 W Bulb

120V

P1 = 25 W P2 = 100 W
 E) Calculate the Voltage across each resistor.

576 W 144 W

= .167 amps

120V

25W Bulb Use Ohm’s Law:

V = IR = (0.167 amps)(576 W) = 96.2 V

100W Bulb Use Ohm’s Law:

V = I  R = (0.167 amps)(144 W) = 24 V
P.O.D. 4:
B) Calculate the total resistance of the circuit.
A) Calculate the total current in the circuit.
C) Calculate the current through each resistor.
D) Calculate the power used by each resistor.
E) Calculate the voltage across each resistor.

200 W 300 W

120V
 The circuit below consists of two identical light bulbs
burning with equal brightness and a single 12V battery.
When the switch is closed, the brightness of bulb A…
A
1. Increases
2. Decreases
3. Remains unchanged
 The circuit below consists of two identical light bulbs
burning with equal brightness and a single 12V battery.
When the switch is closed, the brightness of bulb A…

1. Increases 2. decreases 3. remains unchanged

When the switch is closed, bulb B

goes out because all of the current A
goes through the wire parallel to the
bulb. Thus, the total resistance of
the circuit decreases, the current
through bulb increases, and it burns
brighter.

Q
Which bird is in trouble when the switch is closed?

1) Bird 1 1 2
2) Bird 2
3) Neither
4) Both
Which bird is in trouble when the switch is closed?

1) Bird 1 2) bird 2 3) neither 4) both

1 2
 Charge flows through a light bulb. Suppose a wire
is connected across the bulb as shown. When the wire
is connected…
1. All the charge continues to
flow through the bulb, and
the bulb stays lit.
2. Half the charge flows
through the wire, the other
half continues through the
bulb.
3. Essentially all the charge
flows through the wire and
the bulb goes out.
4. None of these.

Q
 EXAMPLE: Analyze the circuit:
A) Calculate Rtotal
B) Calculate the current through each resistor.
C) Calculate the voltage through each resistor.

8W

60V

8W 16 W 4W
 EXAMPLE: Analyze the circuit:
A) Calculate Rtotal
B) Calculate the current through each resistor.
C) Calculate the voltage through each resistor.

Use the formula for resistors in Parallel:

1 1 1 1 16W
= + +
R total R1 R 2 R 3
1 1 1 1 4
= + + =
R120V 16 32 32 32 32W
1− 2 − 3
16W 32W
32
R 123 = = 8W
4
 EXAMPLE: Analyze the circuit:
A) Calculate Rtotal
B) Calculate the current through each resistor.
C) Calculate the voltage through each resistor.

16W

Replace the three

120V resistors with one
equivalent resistor 32W
16W 8W 32W
 Find the resistance in
Series:
Rtotal = R1 + R2 + etc.
R123-4=8 + 16 16W
R1234=24
120V

8W
 Make a table with the following:

Make chart:
R I V
16W R1 16
120V R2 16
R3 32
32W
16W 32W R4 32
R234 8
R1234 24 120
 These are in parallel so their
voltage is the same along with the
Make chart: total voltage. In Parallel circuits:
V1 = V2 = V3 = etc.

R I V
16W R1 16
120V R2 16
R3 32
32W
16W 32W R4 32
R234 8
All these numbers
will be the same. R1234 24 120
 These are in series so their
current is the same along with
Make chart: the total current:
I1 = I2 = I3 = etc.
R I V
16W R1 16
120V R2 16
R3 32
8W R4 32
R234 8
All these numbers R1234 24 120
will be the same.
Fill out the chart with V=IR
V = IR V = IR
120 = I (24) V = (5) (16) R I V
I=5A V = 80 V R1 16 5 80
R2 16
R3 32
R4 32
R234 8 5
R1234 24 5 120
Fill out the chart with V=IR
V = IR V = IR
120 = I (24) V = (5) (16) R I V
I=5A V = 80 V R1 16 5 80
R2 16 2.5 40
V = IR V = IR R3 32 40
V = (5) (8) 40 = I (16)
V = 40 V
R4 32 40
I = 2.5 A
R234 8 5 40
V = IR
40 = I (32)
R1234 24 5 120
I = 1.25 A
Fill out the chart with V=IR
V = IR V = IR
120 = I (24) V = (5) (16) R I V
I=5A V = 80 V R1 16 5 80
R2 16 2.5 40
V = IR V = IR R3 32 1.25 40
V = (5) (8) 40 = I (16)
V = 40 V
R4 32 1.25 40
I = 2.5 A
R234 8 5 40
V = IR
40 = I (32)
R1234 24 5 120
I = 1.25 A
 Another way to do the problem (without
the chart)

I=V/R
120V I=120v/24W
I=5 amps 24W
 V=IR
V=(5)(16)
V=80volts
16W 80volts

120V 5amps
V=IR
V=(5)(8) 8W 40volts
V=40volts
120volts
 I=V/R
=40volts/16 W 5 amps 16W 80volts
=2.5 amps

120V I=V/R
=40volts/32 W 32W 40
=1.25 amps 16W 32W
volts

5 amps
 When the series circuit shown is connected, Bulb A is
brighter than Bulb B. If the positions of the bulbs were
reversed…
1. Bulb A would again be brighter
2. Bulb B would be brighter
3. They would be equal brightness
 When the series circuit shown is connected, Bulb A is
brighter than Bulb B. If the positions of the bulbs were
reversed…
1. Bulb A would again be brighter
2. Bulb B would be brighter
3. They would be the same

The bulbs are connected in series, so the same

current passes through both of them. Different
brightnesses indicate different filament resistances.
Bulb A is NOT brighter because it is “first in line”
for the current of the battery! After all, electrons
deliver the energy, and they flow from negative to
positive --- in the opposite direction!
P. O. D. 5: Find the voltage and current for
each resistor.

6 W
3 W
6 W
3 W
4 W
2 W
12 W

18 volts
 6W
3W
6W
3W
4W
2W
12W

18 volts
 3W 3W

3W
4W
2W
12W

18 volts
 3W 3W

3W
4W
2W
12W

18 volts
 6W

3W
4W
2W
12W

18 volts
 6W

3W
4W
2W
1 1
= +
1 12W
Rtotal R1 R2
1 1 1
= +
Rtotal 4 12 18 volts

Rtotal =3W
 6W

3W

3W 2W
1 1 1
= +
Rtotal R1 R2
1 1 1
= +
Rtotal 4 12 18 volts

Rtotal =3W
 6W

3W

3W 2W

18 volts
 6W

3W

5W

18 volts
 6W

1 3W
1 1
= +
Rtotal 6 5 5W

Rtotal = 2.73W

18 volts
3W 2.73W

18 volts
3W 2.73W

18 volts
 5.73W

18 volts
Now, find the total current flowing

5.73W
V
I=
R
18volts
I=
5.73W
I = 3.14 amps 18 volts
 6W
9.42volts
3W
V=IR
6W
3W V=(3.14)(3W)
4W
V=9.42 2W
12W

18 volts
 18-9.42
8.57volts

6W
9.42volts
3W
6W
3W
4W
3.14 amps
2W
12W

18 volts
 18-9.42
8.57volts

9.42volts
6W

3W
4W
3.14 amps
2W
12W

18 volts
 18-9.42
8.57volts

9.42volts
6W

3W
4W
3.14 amps
2W
12W

18 volts
 18-9.42
8.57volts

9.42volts
6W

3W
3.14 amps 5W

18 volts
 18-9.42
8.57volts

9.42volts
6W

3W V
I=
R 5W
8.57volts
I=
6W
I = 1.43amps
18 volts
 18-9.42
8.57volts

9.42volts
6W
1.43 amps
3W
3.14 amps 5W

1.71 amps

18 volts
 18-9.42
8.57volts

9.42volts
6W
1.43 amps
3W 3.42Volts
4W
3.14 amps
2W
1.71 12W
1.71
amps amps
V=IR
V=(1.71)(2) 18 volts
V=3.42volts
 18-9.42
8.57volts

9.42volts
6W 1.43 amps

3W 5.15 volts 3.42Volts

4W
3.14 amps
2W
1.71 12W
1.71
amps amps

18 volts
 18-9.42

I=V/R 8.57volts
I=5.15volts/12W
9.42volts
6W 1.43 amps
I= 0.43 amps
3W 5.15 volts 3.42Volts
4W
3.14 amps
2W
1.71 12W
1.71
amps 0.43 amps amps

18 volts
 18-9.42
Or…
I=V/R 8.57volts
1.71 amps – 0.43 =
I=5.15volts/4W
6W 1.28 amps
9.42volts
I= 1.28 amps
3W 5.15 volts 3.42Volts
4W
3.14 amps
2W
1.71 12W
1.71
amps 0.43 amps amps

18 volts
 6W
3W
6W
3W
4W
2W
12W

18 volts
 6W
3W
6W
3W
4W
2W
12W

18 volts
 6W
3W
6W
3W
4W
2W
12W

18 volts

Q
 Given: R1=1W; R2=2 W; R3=3 W. Rank the bulbs
according to their relative brightness

1. R1 > R 2 > R 3
2. R1 > R2 = R3
3. R 1 = R 2 > R3
4. R1 < R 2 < R 3 R1 R2 R3
5. R 1 = R 2 = R3
 15
Given: R1=1W; R2=2 W; R3=3 W. Rank the bulbs
according to their relative brightness

1. R1 > R 2 > R 3
2. R1 > R2 = R3
3. R 1 = R 2 > R3
4. R1 < R 2 < R 3 R1 R2 R3
5. R 1 = R 2 = R3

2
V
P = IV = I R =
2

R
Q
 If the four light Circuit II
bulbs in the figure below
are identical, which
circuit puts out more
total light?
1. I 2. II 3. Same
 If the four light Circuit II
bulbs in the figure below
are identical, which
circuit puts out more
total light?
1. I 2. II 3. Same

The resistance of two light bulbs in parallel in

smaller than that of two bulbs in series. Thus the
current through the battery is greater for circuit I
than for circuit II.
Since the power dissipated is the product of
current and voltage, it follows that more is
dissipated in circuit I.