All Flashcards
Label the diagram of the following series circuit.
Battery, Resistor 1, Resistor 2, Ammeter
Label the diagram of the following parallel circuit.
Battery, Resistor 1, Resistor 2, Ammeter
What is Kirchhoff's Junction Rule?
The total current entering a junction must equal the total current leaving that junction.
Define current in a series circuit.
The current is the same at all points in a series circuit.
Define voltage in a series circuit.
The sum of the voltage drops across each resistor equals the voltage of the battery.
Define resistance in a series circuit.
The total resistance of a series circuit is the sum of the individual resistances:
Define voltage in a parallel circuit.
The voltage drop across each branch is the same and equal to the battery's voltage.
Define current in a parallel circuit.
The total current is the sum of the currents in each branch.
Define resistance in a parallel circuit.
The reciprocal of the total resistance is the sum of the reciprocals of the individual resistances:
What are the key differences between series and parallel circuits regarding current?
Series: Current is the same throughout. | Parallel: Current splits and recombines; total current is the sum of branch currents.
What are the key differences between series and parallel circuits regarding voltage?
Series: Voltage drops add up to the battery voltage. | Parallel: Voltage is the same across each branch.
How does adding resistors affect total resistance in series vs. parallel circuits?
Series: Adding resistors increases total resistance. | Parallel: Adding resistors decreases total resistance.