Series vs parallel circuits Flashcards
(13 cards)
What is a series circuit?
A circuit where components are connected one in a single path.
What is a parallel circuit?
A circuit where components are connected across separate branches, so each component has its own path.
In a series circuit, how does the current behave?
The current is the same through all components.
In a parallel circuit, how does the current behave?
The current splits and can be different in each branch.
In a series circuit, how does the voltage behave?
The total voltage is shared between components.
In a parallel circuit, how does the voltage behave?
The voltage is the same across all components.
What happens to the brightness of bulbs in a parallel circuit when you add more bulbs?
Bulbs stay the same brightness because each gets full voltage.
What is resistance?
A measure of how much a component slows down the current.
What is the formula for total resistance in a series circuit?
R total = R 1 + R 2 + R 3
What is current?
The flow of electric charge through a conductor, measured in amperes (A).
What is voltage?
The electric potential difference between two points, measured in volts (V); it pushes current through a circuit.
What is resistance?
A measure of how much a component opposes the flow of current, measured in ohms (Ω).
What is power in an electrical circuit?
and whats its formula
The rate at which electrical energy is used or converted, measured in watts (W).
P=V×I ( Power = Voltage × Current)
