Series and parallel circuits

In a series circuit, components are connected one after another along a single path, so the same current flows through each one, the voltages across the components add up to the source voltage, and the total resistance is the sum of the individual resistances (R = R1 + R2 + ...). If one bulb in a series circuit burns out, the path is broken and all the bulbs go out. In a parallel circuit, components sit on separate branches, so each branch has the full source voltage, the branch currents add up to the total current, and the total resistance is less than the smallest branch resistance (1/R = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + ...). Homes are wired in parallel so each appliance gets the full voltage and can be switched on or off independently. Two 6-ohm resistors give 12 ohms in series but 3 ohms in parallel. Circuits are planned with schematic diagrams, using standard symbols for batteries, wires, switches, resistors, bulbs, ammeters, and voltmeters, and then built from those plans. Ohm's law works for each element: with a 12-volt battery, the two 6-ohm resistors in series carry 1 ampere and each uses 6 watts, while in parallel each branch carries 2 amperes and each resistor uses 24 watts.

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