Principles of Electricity


Series and Parallel Resistances - a Summary

    To summarize all that we have just learned:

  • There are 2 types of circuits.... Series and Parallel.
    • Series Circuits
      • Are connected in a straight line, like a chain.
      • All current remains the same throughout the circuit.
          • I Total = I 1 =I 2 =I 3 etc...
      • There can be many different voltages in a series circuit, as a voltage drop appears across every resistor.
      • The total voltage in a series circuit is equal to the sum of all the individual voltage drops within the circuit.
          • E Total = E 1 + E 2 + E 3 + etc...

      • The total resistance in a series circuit is equal to the sum of all the individual resistances within the circuit.
      • The formula for Resistance in Series is:
          R Total = R 1 + R 2 + R 3 + etc...

    • Parallel Circuits
      • Are connected allowing multiple paths for current flow.
      • All voltage remains the same throughout the circuit.
          • E Total = E 1 =E 2 =E 3 etc...
      • There can be many different currents in a parallel circuit, as each leg has the same voltage, but can have a different resistance.
      • The total current in a parallel circuit is equal to the sum of all the individual currents on each leg of the circuit.
      • The formula for Current in Parallel is:
          I RTotal = I R1 + I R2 + I R3 + etc...

      • Resistance is found by reciprocating the sum of the reciprocals of the resistance of the individual branches
      • The formula for Resistance in Parallel is:
                             1
          -----------------------------------
            1       1       1       1       1
           ---- + ---- + ---- + ---- + ---- + 
           R 1     R 2    R 3    R 4    R X...      
    • Ohm's Law states that there is a relationship which exists between current, resistance, and voltage, such that E = I x R
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This Course was written by Ray Dall © All Rights Reserved.
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This Course was written by Ray Dall © All Rights Reserved.
This page and all it's content Copyright, Trademarks, Intellectual Properties
and other legal issues 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Ray Dall.
All Rights Reserved.
And for what it's worth... this page was last updated HexDate 01-11--7D1

VISITORS:
Add Me!