Section 15.4 Series and Parallel Circuits

Section 15.
Series and parallel circuits
• Series circuit
• Parallel circuit
• Effects of resistance of
ammeter, voltmeter and cell
© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 1
15.4 Series and parallel circuits (SB p. 55)
Series and parallel circuits
Bulbs are connected in two ways:
in series
in parallel
Go to Go to
© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. Discussion 2 Discussion 3 2

Series circuit
Series circuit — connects electrical

components one by one, forming single loop

Series circuit
total electrical energy

supplied by the cell (E)
electrical energy electrical energy

dissipated in X (E1) dissipated in Y (E2)
By V = E ,
Q
V = V1 + V 2

Resistance in series circuit
I1 = I2 = I
V1 + V2 = V
As V = V1 + V2
IR = I1R1 + I2R2
R = R1 + R2 ( I 1= I2 = I )

CAL equivalent resistance

Workshop 5
Simple circuits
R = R 1 + R 2 + R3 + R4 + …
(A) Series
circuit
Drawback of
series circuit
one bulb burns out

→ whole circuit breakdown
Drawback of
series circuit
undesirable for domestic wiring

Parallel circuit
Parallel circuit — splits into branches with

connected electrical components

Resistance in parallel circuit
V = V1 = V2
As I = I1 + I2
V V V
= +
R R1 R2
1 1 1
= +
R R1 R2
R1R2
or R=
R1 + R2
CAL equivalent resistance

Workshop 6
1 1 1 1 1
Simple circuits = + + + + ...
(B) Parallel R R1 R2 R3 R4
circuit
Use for domestic wiring
failure of one bulb

Thinking 2 → not affect others
Example 2:
In the circuit, a battery of voltage of 9 V is connected to a
rheostat. The resistance of AC is 10 Ω and that of AB is
4Ω.

Example 2: (Cont)
(a) What is the current in the circuit? Solut
ion
Let the current in the circuit be I. The voltage across AC
is 9 V. The resistance of the circuit is 10 Ω .
By R = V
I
9
10 =
I
I = 0.9 A

Example 2: (Cont) Solut

(b) What is the voltage across AB? ion
The current flowing through AB is 0.9 A. The resistance
is 4 Ω .
By V = IR
V = 0.9 × 4 = 3.6 V
(c) What is the voltage across BC?

Solut
Voltage across BC = 9 − 3.6 = 5.4ion
V

Example 3:
In the circuit as shown, find Solut
ion
(a) the total resistance of the resistors

3× 6
Resistance of the 3-Ω and 6-Ω resistors = =2Ω
3+6
Total resistance = 2 + 4 = 6 Ω
Thinking 3
Example 3: (Cont)
(b) find the current flowing through the 4-Ω resistor,
V 3 Solut
Current through the 4-Ω resistor = = = 0.5 A ion
R 6
(c) find the currents flowing through the 3-Ω and 6-Ω
resistors,
Voltage across the 3-Ω and 6-Ω resistors = IR = 0.5 × 2 = 1
V Solut
V 1 flowing through the 3-Ω resistor
Current ion
= = A
R 3
Current
V 1 flowing through the 6-Ω resistor
= = A
R 6
Example 3: (Cont)
(d) find the voltage across the 4-Ω resistor.
Solut
Voltage across the 4-Ω resistor = IR = 0.5 × 4 = ion
2V

Class Practice 3:
In the circuit, a 100-Ω and a 300-Ω resistors are
connected in parallel with a cell of 20 V.
Ans
(a) Find the total resistance of the resistors. wer
1 1 1 1 1
= + +
= ________________
R R1 R2 100 300
75 Ω
Total resistance = _________________
Class Practice 3: (Cont)

(b) Find the current drawn from the cell.
V 20 Ans
Current drawn from the cell (I) = = = 0.27 A
R 75 wer
______________
(c) Find the current passing through each resistor.

Ans
Current
V 20 passing through 100-Ω resistor
= = 0.2 A wer
R 100
_________________
Current
V 20 passing through 300-Ω resistor Ans
= = 0.07 A wer
R 300
_________________
Class Practice 4:
(a) In the circuit, find the total resistance.
Ans
wer

Since the 100-Ω and 200-Ω resistors

are connected in series.
Total resistance of the 100-Ω and 200-Ω resistors
= 100 Ω + 200 Ω = 300 Ω
The 300-Ω resistor connected with them in parallel, by
1 1 1
= +
R 300 300
Total resistance of the 100-Ω , 200-Ω
and 300-Ω resistors = 150 Ω


(b) Find the total current drawn from the cell.
The current drawn from the cell Ans
V 30 wer
= = 0.2 A
________________
R 150
(c) Find the currents flowing through each of the resistors.
Ans
wer
The current flowing through the 100-Ω and 200-Ω resistors
V 30
= = = 0.1 A
R 300
The current flowing through the 300-Ω resistor
V 30
= = = 0.1 A
R 300

(d) Find the voltage across each of the resistors.
Ans
wer
Voltage across the 100-Ω resistor
= IR = 0.1 × 100 = 10 V

= IR = 0.1 × 200 = 20 V

= 30 V

Effects of resistance of ammeter,

voltmeter and cell
battery voltmeter
ammeter
Go to
They have resistance too
Discussion 4 → effect on current / voltage
Effects of resistance of ammeter
Small resistance circuit
Total resistance ( few ohms )

= Resistance of R1 + Resistance of ammeter (RA)
comparable → total resistance ↑

resistance ↑
→ I & V of R1 ↓

Large resistance circuit
→ I & V of R2
remain
unchanged
Total resistance ( few ohms )

= Resistance of R2 + Resistance of ammeter (RA)
R2 >> RA → total resistance remain unchanged
Effects of resistance of voltmeter
Total current ( few hundred ohms )

= Current through R1 + Current through voltmeter
RV >> R1 → total current remain unchanged
Effects of resistance of voltmeter
Large resistance circuit
Total current ( few hundred ohms )

= Current through R1 + Current through voltmeter
RV & R1 comparable → total current ↑
Effect of resistance of cell
internal resistance (r) (few ohms)

Voltage of the cell = I ( R + r )
∴ affects V & I of small resistance circuit only

Thinking 4
To section 15.5

Discussion 2:
When one of the light bulbs on a Christmas tree is
removed, what happen to the other light bulbs? Why?
Ans
The light bulbs in
the affected string
wer
do not light up but the light bulbs in
other strings do. This is because the
unlit bulbs are connected in series. If
one light bulb is failed, the other
bulbs do not light up. However, the
other light bulbs in different strings
are connected in parallel. Therefore,
Return to
they still light up.
© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd.
Text 33
Discussion 3:
You are given two resistors, a dry cell and some
connecting wires.
Connect the resistors (a) in series and (b) in parallel
with the dry cell to form a closed circuit. In each case,
(i) draw the circuit diagram,
(ii) find the relation between the currents passing

through the dry cell and the two resistors, and
(iii) find the relation between the voltages across the

dry cell and the two resistors.
Discussion 3: (Cont)
(Hint: Imagine the electric circuit as a water pipe
system with the dry cell acting as a pump, the
connecting wires as pipes, the current as a flow of
water and resistors as water turbines.) Ans
(a) In series wer
(a)(i)
(ii) I1 = I2 = I3
(iii) V1 = V2 + V3
Ans
(b) In parallel wer
(b)(i)
(ii) I1 = I2 + I3
Return to
(iii) V1 = V2 = V3
Text
Thinking 2
Injury caused by an electric shock depends on

the amount of the current that flows in the
body. Why do we see signs that read
"Danger - High Voltage" rather than
"Danger - High Current"? Ans
wer
This is because the current depends on
the resistance of the body. The voltage
is fixed by the power source. Therefore a
warning of high voltage is more relevant
Return to
than that of high current.
Text
Thinking 3
In the circuit, when the switch is closed, what
happen to the readings of ammeters A1, A2
Ans
and voltmeter V1?
wer

Thinking 3 (Cont)
The reading of V1 remains unchanged because it is

equal to the voltage of the cell. The voltage across R1 is
V
equal to the voltage of the cell. By I = R , the reading of
A1 remains unchanged.
The reading of A2 is equal to the sum of the current
passing through R1 and R2. If the switch is closed, there
is a current passing through R2. Therefore, the reading
Return to
of A increases.
© Manhattan Press (H.K.)
2 Ltd. Text 39
Discussion 4:
1. In Circuit A, find the voltages across the
resistor (R) and currents passing through it if the
resistance of R is Circuit A
(a) 0.1 Ω , and
(b) 1 kΩ . Ans
wer
(a) VA1 = 3 V (b) VA2 = 3 V

3 3
IA1 = 0.1 = 30 A IA2 = 1 k = 3 × 10−3 A

2. In Circuit B, find the voltages across the resistor
(R) if the resistance of R is Circuit B
(a) 0.1 Ω , and Ans
(b) 1 kΩ . wer
(a) 3 (b) 3
IB1 = = 0.588 A IB2 = = 2.985 × 10−3A
0.1 + 5 1k +5
VB1 = 0.588 × 0.1 VB2 = 2.985 × 10−3 × 1 k
= 0.0588 V = 2.985 V

3. In Circuit B, if we take the 5- Ω resistor away,
what happen to the voltage and the current in resistor
R? Ans Circuit B
wer
Circuit B becomes
Circuit A.
(i) If the resistor of R is (ii) If the resistance of R is
small (e.g., 0.1 Ω ), large (e.g., 1 k Ω ),
IA1 >> IB1 IA2 ≅ IB2
VA1 >> VB1 VA2 ≅ VB2

4. In Circuit C, find the total currents flowing out of
the battery if the resistance of R is
(a) 0.1 Ω , and Ans Circuit C
(b) 1 kΩ . wer
3 3 3 3
(a) IC1 = + (b) IC2 = +
0.1 10 k 1 k 10 k
= 30.000 A = 3.3 × 10−3 A

5. In Circuit C, if we take the 10- kΩ resistor away,
what happens to the current flowing through resistor
R? Circuit C
Ans
wer
Circuit C also becomes
Circuit A.
(i) If the resistor of R is (ii) If the resistance of R is
small (e.g., 0.1 Ω ), large (e.g., 1 k Ω ),
IA1 ≈ IC1 IA2 < IC2
Return to
Text
Thinking 4
The resistance of a resistor can be found by
using either circuit A or circuit B shown below.
Explain which circuit is suitable for finding
1. high resistance and Ans
2. low resistance. wer
Circuit A Circuit B
R R

Thinking 4 (Cont)
1. Circuit A
Voltmeter reading = V across R + V across ammeter
Since Rresistor >> Rammeter and V ∝ R,
V across R >> V across ammeter. R
So V across R ~ voltmeter reading.
Ammeter reading = I through R
Therefore, the resistance calculated
from R = V / I is close to the actual value.

Return to
Thinking 4 (Cont) Text

2. Circuit B
Ammeter reading = I through R + I through voltmeter
Since Rresistor << Rvoltmeter and I ∝ 1/R,
R
I through R >> I through voltmeter.
Therefore I through R ~ ammeter reading.
Voltmeter reading = V across R
Therefore, the resistance calculated
from R = V / I is close to the actual value.
In an ideal case, we should always use an ammeter with a very low
resistance and a voltmeter with an extremely high resistance. Then,
both circuits make no major difference for measuring the resistance.

Section 15.4 Series and Parallel Circuits

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Section 15.4 Series and Parallel Circuits

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Section 15.

Series and parallel circuits

Series and parallel circuits

Bulbs are connected in two ways:

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. Discussion 2 Discussion 3 2

Series circuit — connects electrical

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 3

total electrical energy

electrical energy electrical energy

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 4

Resistance in series circuit

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 5

Resistance in series circuit

CAL equivalent resistance

Resistance in series circuit

one bulb burns out

Resistance in series circuit

undesirable for domestic wiring

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 8

Parallel circuit — splits into branches with

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 9

Resistance in parallel circuit

Resistance in parallel circuit

CAL equivalent resistance

Resistance in parallel circuit

Use for domestic wiring

failure of one bulb

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 13

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 14

Example 2: (Cont) Solut

(c) What is the voltage across BC?

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 15

(a) the total resistance of the resistors

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 18

Class Practice 3: (Cont)

(c) Find the current passing through each resistor.

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 21

Class Practice 4: (Cont)

Since the 100-Ω and 200-Ω resistors

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 22

Class Practice 4: (Cont)

Class Practice 4: (Cont)

Voltage across the 200-Ω resistor

Voltage across the 300-Ω resistor

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 24

Effects of resistance of ammeter,

Effects of resistance of ammeter

Small resistance circuit

Total resistance ( few ohms )

comparable → total resistance ↑

Effects of resistance of ammeter

Small resistance circuit

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 27

Effects of resistance of ammeter

Large resistance circuit

Total resistance ( few ohms )

Effects of resistance of voltmeter

Small resistance circuit

Total current ( few hundred ohms )

Effects of resistance of voltmeter

Large resistance circuit

Total current ( few hundred ohms )

Effect of resistance of cell

internal resistance (r) (few ohms)