series vs parallel

Question 1

whats the difference between series and parallel?

Answer 1

series circuits only follow a single path
parallel circuits split into multiple paths

Question 2

how is potential difference different between series and parallel?

Answer 2

potential difference is shared across whole circuit in series
pd of power supply=sum of pd across all components
potential difference is same across all branches in parallel
pd of power supply= pd of each branch

Question 3

how is current different between series and parallel?

Answer 3

current is same through all parts of series circuit
current at one point= current elsewhere
current is shared through each branch in parallel
current through source=sum of current through each branch

Question 4

how is resistance different between series and parallel?

Answer 4

total resistance is sum of the resistance in each component in series
in parallel, total resistance of 2 resistors is less then resistance of smallest individual resistor
with 2 resistors in parallel, there is more pathway for current to take, more total current will pass through circuit