7.

5 Parallel and Series Circuits

Symbols of electric circuit components.

Circuit compound
Cell
Series cell

Symbol

Use
Electric sources that supply
electrical energy

Parallel cells

Lamp or bulb

Lights up when current

flows through it

Fixed resistor

Reduces current flow

Rheostat

Controls current flow

Switch

Completes and breaks a

circuit

Ammeter

Measures current in units of

ampere

Milliammeter

Measures current in units of

milliampere

Microammeter

Measures current in units of

microampere

Voltmeter

Measures voltage in units of

volt

Galvanometer

Detects current

Fuse

Melts when excessive

current flows through it

Earth connector

Sends leaked current to the

earth

Electric circuit

An electric circuit is a path that allows electric current to flow through it.
Two types:
a) Series circuit
b) parallel circuit

Series circuit

When circuit components like a bulb or resistor is connected from end to

end or in a row, the circuit is called a series circuit.
The electric current flows on only one path from the POSITIVE terminal to
the NEGATIVE terminal of an electric source.
In a series circuit, if one part of the circuit is disconnected or the bulb is
burnt, the circuit becomes incomplete and other bulbs will also be put
out.
Parallel circuit

In a parallel circuit, electric components are arranged side by side and

parallel to one another.
There is more than one path for the flow of electric current.
If one bulb or resistor is spoilt or removed, electric current will still flow
through another path. Other bulbs are still lit.
7.6 Electric current, Voltage and Resistance in a Series circuit
Flow of electric current in a series circuit

The electric current that flows in all the positions in a SERIES circuit is the
SAME.

I = I 1 = I2
Voltage in a series circuit
a) Voltage of cells in series

Number of cells connected in

series
1
2
3

Cell voltage (V)

1.5
1.5 + 1.5 = 3.0
1.5 + 1.5 + 1.5 = 4.5

Brightness of
bulb
Bright
Very bright
Brightest

The more cells connected in series, the BIGGER the total cell voltage. This
causes the bulb to shine brighter.
The total voltage is the same as the sum of the voltages of each cell.
b) Voltage of bulbs in series
The voltage that passes through every circuit component like the bulb in a
series circuit is the same.
The voltage that passes through all the circuit components ( supplied by
an electric source) is the same as the total voltage of each circuit
component.

V= V1 + V2
Resistance in a series circuit
If more bulbs are added in series, resistance in the circuit will increase
causing the current that flows through the bulbs to decrease. So, the bulbs
will shine dimly (malap).

R= R1 + R2
Summary for SERIES circuit

Current
Voltage
Resistance

I = I 1 = I2 = I3
V= V1 + V2 + V3
R= R1 + R2 + R3

In a parallel circuit:
a) The quantity of current supplied by the electric source
is the same as the sum of the electric current that
flows through each circuit branch.

I = I 1 + I2 + I3
b) The voltage across each bulb is
the same as the voltage supplied by the electric source.

V = V1 = V2 = V3
c) The total circuit resistance is represented
by the flowing formula.

Example :

The differences between a series circuit and a parallel circuit