What are “Series” and “Parallel”

Circuits?
Chapter 5 - Series And Parallel Circuits

Circuits consisting of just one battery and one load resistance are very simple to
analyze, but they are not often found in practical applications. Usually, we find circuits
where more than two components are connected together.
There are two basic ways in which to connect more than two circuit
components: series and parallel. First, an example of a series circuit:
Here, we have three resistors (labeled R1, R2, and R3), connected in a long chain from
one terminal of the battery to the other. (It should be noted that the subscript
labeling—those little numbers to the lower-right of the letter “R”—are unrelated to the
resistor values in ohms. They serve only to identify one resistor from another.) The
defining characteristic of a series circuit is that there is only one path for electrons to
flow. In this circuit the electrons flow in a counter-clockwise direction, from point 4 to
point 3 to point 2 to point 1 and back around to 4.
Now, let’s look at the other type of circuit, a parallel configuration:

Again, we have three resistors, but this time they form more than one continuous path
for electrons to flow. There’s one path from 8 to 7 to 2 to 1 and back to 8 again.
There’s another from 8 to 7 to 6 to 3 to 2 to 1 and back to 8 again. And then there’s a
third path from 8 to 7 to 6 to 5 to 4 to 3 to 2 to 1 and back to 8 again. Each individual
path (through R1, R2, and R3) is called a branch.
The defining characteristic of a parallel circuit is that all components are connected
between the same set of electrically common points. Looking at the schematic
diagram, we see that points 1, 2, 3, and 4 are all electrically common. So are points 8,
7, 6, and 5. Note that all resistors as well as the battery are connected between these
two sets of points.
And, of course, the complexity doesn’t stop at simple series and parallel either! We
can have circuits that are a combination of series and parallel, too:
In this circuit, we have two loops for electrons to flow through: one from 6 to 5 to 2 to
1 and back to 6 again, and another from 6 to 5 to 4 to 3 to 2 to 1 and back to 6 again.
Notice how both current paths go through R1(from point 2 to point 1). In this
configuration, we’d say that R2 and R3 are in parallel with each other, while R1 is in
series with the parallel combination of R2 and R3.
This is just a preview of things to come. Don’t worry! We’ll explore all these circuit
configurations in detail, one at a time!

The basic idea of a “series” connection is that components are connected end-to-end
in a line to form a single path for electrons to flow:

The basic idea of a “parallel” connection, on the other hand, is that all components
are connected across each other’s leads. In a purely parallel circuit, there are never
more than two sets of electrically common points, no matter how many components
are connected. There are many paths for electrons to flow, but only one voltage
across all components:
Series and parallel resistor configurations have very different electrical properties.
We’ll explore the properties of each configuration in the sections to come.

 REVIEW:
 In a series circuit, all components are connected end-to-end, forming a single
path for electrons to flow.
 In a parallel circuit, all components are connected across each other, forming
exactly two sets of electrically common points.
 A “branch” in a parallel circuit is a path for electric current formed by one of the
load components (such as a resistor).
 Two Types of Connections
 Circuit Symbols and Circuit Diagrams
 Two Types of Connections
 Series Circuits
 Parallel Circuits
 Combination Circuits
When there are two or more electrical devices present in a circuit with an energy
source, there are a couple of basic means by which to connect them. They can be
connected in series or connected in parallel. Suppose that there are three light bulbs
connected together in the same circuit. If connected in series, then they are connected
in such a way that an individual charge would pass through each one of the light bulbs
in consecutive fashion. When in series, charge passes through every light bulb. If
connected in parallel, a single charge passing through the external circuit would only
pass through one of the light bulbs. The light bulbs are placed within a separate branch
line, and a charge traversing the external circuit will pass through only one of the
branches during its path back to the low potential terminal. The means by which the
resistors are connected will have a major effect upon the overall resistance of the
circuit, the total current in the circuit, and the current in each resistor. In Lesson 4, we
will explore the effect of the type of connection upon the overall current and resistance
of the circuit.
A common physics lab activity involves constructing both types of circuits with bulbs
connected in series and bulbs connected in parallel. A comparison and contrast is made
between the two circuits.

The main questions of concern in a lab activity such as this are typically the following:
 As the number of resistors (light bulbs) increases, what happens to the overall current
within the circuit?
 As the number of resistors (light bulbs) increases, what happens to the overall resistance
within the circuit?
 If one of the resistors is turned off (i.e., a light bulb goes out), what happens to the other
resistors (light bulbs) in the circuit? Do they remain on (i.e., lit)?
Exploring Series Connections
In conducting the lab activity, distinctly different observations are made for the two
types of circuits. A series circuit can be constructed by connecting light bulbs in such a
manner that there is a single pathway for charge flow; the bulbs are added to the same
line with no branching point. As more and more light bulbs are added, the brightness of
each bulb gradually decreases. This observation is an indicator that the current within
the circuit is decreasing.

So for series circuits, as more resistors are added the

overall current within the circuit decreases. This decrease in
current is consistent with the conclusion that the overall resistance
increases.
A final observation that is unique to series circuits is the effect of
removing a bulb from a socket. If one of three bulbs in a series
circuit is unscrewed from its socket, then it is observed that the
other bulbs immediately go out. In order for the devices in a series
circuit to work, each device must work. If one goes out, they all
go out. Suppose that all the appliances in a household kitchen
were all connected in series. In order for the refrigerator to work in that kitchen, the
toaster oven, dishwasher, garbage disposal and overhead light would all have to be on.
In order for one device in series to work, they all must work. If current is cut from any
one of them, it is cut from all of them. Quite obviously, the appliances in the kitchen are
not connected in series.
Exploring Parallel Connections
Using the same collection of wires, D-cells and bulbs, parallel circuits can be explored in
the same manner. The effect of the number of resistors upon the overall current and
the overall resistance can be investigated. The diagrams below depict the usual means
of constructing the circuit with parallel connections of light bulbs. One will note that a
study of the overall current for parallel connections requires the addition of an indicator
bulb. The indicator bulb is placed outside of the branches and allows one to observe the
effect of additional resistors upon the overall current. The bulbs that are placed in the
parallel branches only provide an indicator of the current through that particular branch.
So if investigating the effect of the number of resistors upon the overall current and
resistance, one must make careful observations of the indicator bulb, not the bulbs that
are placed in the branches. The diagram below depicts the typical observations.

It is clear from observing the indicator bulbs in the above diagrams that the addition of
more resistors causes the indicator bulb to get brighter. For parallel circuits, as the
number of resistors increases, the overall current also increases. This increase in
current is consistent with a decrease in overall resistance. Adding more resistors in a
separate branch has the unexpected result of decreasing the overall resistance!
If an individual bulb in a parallel branch is unscrewed from
its socket, then there is still current in the overall circuit and
current in the other branches. Removing the third bulb from
its socket has the effect of transforming the circuit from a
three-bulb parallel circuit to a two-bulb parallel circuit. If the
appliances in a household kitchen were connected in parallel,
then the refrigerator could function without having to have
the dishwasher, toaster, garbage disposal and overhead
lights on. One appliance can work without the other appliances having to be on. Since
each appliance is in its own separate branch, turning that appliance off merely cuts off
the flow of charge to that branch. There will still be charge flowing through the other
branches to the other appliances. Quite obviously, the appliances in a home are wired
with parallel connections.
The Tollbooth Analogy
The effect of adding resistors is quite different if added in parallel compared to adding
them in series. Adding more resistors in series means that there is more overall
resistance; yet adding more resistors in parallel means that there is less overall
resistance. The fact that one can add more resistors in parallel and produce less
resistance is quite bothersome to many. An analogy may help to clarify the reason
behind this initially bothersome truth.
The flow of charge through the wires of a circuit can be compared to the flow of cars
along a tollway system in a very crowded metropolitan area. The main sources of
resistance on a tollway system are the tollbooths. Stopping cars and forcing them to
pay a toll at a tollbooth not only slows the cars down, but in a highly trafficked area,
will also cause a bottleneck with a backup for miles. The rate at which cars flow past a
point on that tollway system is reduced significantly by the presence of a tollbooth.
Clearly, tollbooths are the main resistor to car flow.
Now suppose that in an effort to increase the flow rate the Tollway Authority decides to
add two more tollbooths at a particular toll station where the bottleneck is troublesome
to travelers. They consider two possible means of connecting their tollbooths - in series
versus in parallel. If adding the tollbooths (i.e., resistors) in series, they would add
them in a manner that every car flowing along the highway would have to stop at each
tollbooth in consecutive fashion. With only one pathway through the tollbooths, each
car would have to stop and pay a toll at each booth. Instead of paying 60 cents one
time at one booth, they would now have to pay 20 cents three times at each of the
three tollbooths. Quite obviously, adding tollbooths in series would have the overall
effect of increasing the total amount of resistance and decreasing the overall car flow
rate (i.e., current).
The other means of adding the two additional tollbooths at this particular toll station
would be to add the tollbooths in parallel fashion. Each tollbooth could be placed in a
separate branch. Cars flowing along the tollway would stop at only one of the three
booths. There would be three possible pathways for cars to flow through the toll station
and each car would chose only one of the pathways. Quite obviously, adding tollbooths
in parallel would have the overall effect of decreasing the total amount of resistance
and increasing the overall car flow rate (i.e., current) along the tollway. Just as is the
case for adding more electrical resistors in parallel, adding more tollbooths in parallel
branches creates less overall resistance. By allowing for more pathways (i.e., branches)
by which charge and cars can flow through the bottleneck areas, the flow rate can be
increased.
We Would Like to Suggest ...

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website. The DC Circuit Builder provides the learner with a virtual circuit building kit. You can
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them anyway you wish. Voltmeters and ammeters allow you to measure current and voltage
drops. Tapping a resistor or a voltage source allows you to change the resistance or the input
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