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NNPC FSTP Technicians

Fundamentals of
Electricity
Course Code: FY7W 04
Lesson 7

Contents

The Series Circuit

Performance Objectives
Upon completion of this Course, students
will be able to:
Follow the current path in a series circuit
Perform simple calculations on a series
circuit
State, prove & apply Kirchhoff's Voltage
Law

Review of the Simple


Circuit

Simple Electric Circuit


Before electricity can flow there must be a complete
path. The path is called the circuit.
All electrical circuits have at least 3 parts:
The Source to produce the e.m.f. to force the
electrons (current) around the circuit and through the
load.
The Path to allow the electrons (current) to flow easily.
The path is made of conductors, which are normally
copper wires.
The Load ~ any device which uses (consumes)
electricity. There are many examples of loads in your
home and at work, e.g. lights, water heater, toaster,
television, radio etc.

Three Parts of the Simple


Electric Circuit

Introducing Complex Circuits


Many electrical circuits have more than one
load. Electrical circuits with more than one load
can be connected in one of three ways. They
can be connected in:
Series (2 or more loads)
OR
Parallel (2 or more loads)
OR
Series Parallel (3 or more loads)
This Lesson covers the Series Circuit.

Series Circuits 1
A series circuit has two or more loads, which are
connected end to end.
LOAD 2

LOAD 1

Conducting
Path

SUPPLY

Series Circuits 2
In a series circuit the loads are connected so there is
only one path for the current to flow through.
R1

R2

R3

Supply

The diagram shows three resistors connected in series


(end to end). The current flows in a single path through
all the resistors (loads).

Series Circuits 2
In a series circuit the current flows in a single path through all the
components (loads) of the circuit. The diagram below shows two
different forms of series circuits. In these circuits, the current path
does not form a regular shape (rectangle). The current path is more
difficult to follow.

+V
E
Supply

R1

VE

VE
R3

R2

R1

VE

R2

Exercise
R3

R2
+VE
Suppl
y
VE

R4
R1

For the diagram above, draw the current path to connect


R1, R2, R3 and R4 in series with the supply.

Exercise (Answer)
R3

R2
+VE
Supply
VE

R4
R1

Current in a Series Circuit


The current in a series circuit goes through all the
resistors (components), because a series circuit has only
path; therefore, there is only one current.
Hence the formula :
T = 1 = 2 = 3 = 4 etc
where: T = Total current flowing in the circuit
And
1 = 2 = 3 = 4 = Current at different points in the circuit.

Resistance in a Series Circuit


The current in a series circuit goes through all the resistors (loads) in
the circuit. All of the resistors in a series circuit are connected across
the supply.
R2
R3
R
1

Supply

The total resistance (RT) of a series circuit equals the sum of the
individual resistors. This can be written as a formula using symbols:
RT = R1 + R2 + R3
where: RT = Total resistance of series circuit.
And

R1 , R2 , R3 = Individual resistors in series circuit.

Note ~ This formula is for three resistors A series circuit may have two
resistors or several resistors in the circuit. Generally, therefore, the total
resistance of any series circuit is: RT = R1 + R2 + R3 + etc

Calculations (Example 1)
The diagram shows a series circuit with three resistors
connected to a supply
12

R1

R2

R3

Supply

The value of each resistor is shown.


Therefore, the total resistance (RT) of the circuit can be
calculated by using the formula:
RT = R1 + R2 + R3
RT = 12 + 6 + 6
RT = 24
TOTAL RESISTANCE = 24

Calculations (Example 2)
This circuit can be represented by an equivalent circuit, as shown.
Equivalent means something which is equal but is shown or stated in a
R1
different way.
12

Suppl
y

R2

Supply

24

6
R3

(a) Series Circuit

(b) Equivalent Circuit

The total resistance of these two circuits, (a) and (b), is the same (equal).
Note: Strictly, the two circuits, (a) and (b), are not the same. However,
the circuit shown in (b) has an equivalent resistance to the series circuit in
(a).
Equivalent circuit diagrams are very useful when doing calculations for
series-parallel circuits.

Calculations (Example 3)
The diagram shows a series circuit and the equivalent circuit.
R1

10

+V
E
100 V
V
E

+VE

R2

100 V
VE

25
R3
(a) Series Circuit

(b) Equivalent Circuit

Determine:
(a) The total resistance RT of the circuit (a).
(b) The current taken by the circuit.

RT

Answer (Example 3)
Step 1: Find the total resistance RT by using the formula:
RT = R 1 + R 2 + R 3
RT = 10 + 5 + 25
RT = 40
Step 2: To determine the current taken by the circuit we need to
use Ohm's Law: = V
R
But what values of ,V & R apply to Series Circuits?
There is only one current in a series circuit, = Total Current, T
The total voltage (VT) is the supply voltage written as (VS)
When IT and VS are used, RT must be used.
Therefore, Ohms Law for a Series Circuit is:
T = Vs
RT

Carrying Out the Calculation


T = Vs
RT
T = 100 V
40
Answer: Current taken by the circuit is 2.5 A
The above examples show how to find the total
resistance RT when the values of the individual
resistors are known.
The resistance of a single unknown resistor in a series
circuit can be determined if the total resistance is
known.

Example 4
This example shows how to find the resistance of an unknown resistor
in a series circuit if the total resistance is known.
R1

25

10

Suppl
y

R2

Suppl
y

50

?
R3

Step 1: To find R3 we have to transpose (change) the formula


RT = R1 + R2 + R3
Transpose for R3 :
If

RT = R1 + R2 + R3 then RT (R1 + R2) = R3

Step 2
R3 = 50 (25 + 10)
R3 = 50 35

R3 = 15

RT

Voltage Drop in a Series Circuit


When current flows through a resistor ( load ), there is a
voltage drop across the resistor.
The size of the voltage drop depends on the size of the
current, , flowing through the load and the resistance,
R, of the load.
(Ohm's law, V = R)
Voltage Drop (V) = Current () x Resistance (R)
V = x R where V = volt drop across resistor (load)
= current through resistor (load)
R = resistance of resistor (load)

Single Load
In a simple circuit with only one load, the voltage drop
across the load equals the supply voltage. This is
shown in diagram (a) below.

SUPPLY

LAMP
(100 W)

SUPPLY
VOLTAGE

Single Load
Diagram (b) shows two similar loads (lamps) connected in series.
The voltage drop across each load (lamp) is about half the supply
voltage.
LAMP 1
(100 W)

1/2 SUPPLY
VOLTAGE

SUPPLY

LAMP 2
(100 W)

1/2 SUPPLY
VOLTAGE

As more loads (lamps, resistors etc.,) are added to a series circuit,


the volt drop across each load (lamp) will get smaller. However,
when the volt drops in a series circuit are added together, they will
always be equal to the supply voltage.

Kirchhoff's Voltage Law


The relationship between the volt drops in
a series circuit and the applied voltage
(supply) was discovered by a scientist
called Gustav Kirchhoff.
Kirchhoff's voltage law states that the sum
of the voltage drops in a series circuit is
equal to the applied voltage (supply) of
the circuit.

Kirchhoff's Voltage Law in


Symbols
VS = Vd1 + Vd2 + Vd3 + etc
Where :
VS = Supply Voltage
Vd1 = Volt Drop Across Resistor 1 (Load 1)
Vd2 =

Volt Drop Across Resistor 2 (Load 2)

Vd3 =

Volt Drop Across Resistor 3 (Load 3)

A Series Circuit with Three


Resistors
There is a voltage drop across each resistor. The volt drop
depends on the current () flowing through the resistor and
the resistance (R) of the resistor (Ohm's Law).
Volt Drop
(Vd1)
R1

Applied Voltage
(Supply)

When the volt drops in this circuit are added together, they
will equal the applied voltage (supply).
VS = Vd1 + Vd2 + Vd3
(KIRCHHOFF'S VOLTAGE LAW)

Proof & Application of


Kirchhoffs Voltage
Law

Slide One
The diagram shows three resistors connected in series with a
100V supply. Determine the voltage drop across each
resistor.
20

30

50

R1

R2

R3

+VE

100V
Supply
(VS)

VE

Step 1: Determine total resistance (RT) of the circuit shown.


RT = R1 + R2 + R3 RT = 20 + 30 + 50 = 100

RT = 100

Slide Two
Step 2: Determine the total current (T) taken by the circuit
T = VS = 100V
RT 100
Step 3: Find the volt drop across each resistor:
Vd = X R
Vd1 across R1 = x R1
Vd1 = x R1; Vd1 = 1A x 20 = 20V
Vd2 across R2 = x R2
Vd2 = x R2; Vd2 = 1A x 30 = 30V
Vd3 across R3 = x R3
Vd3 = x R3; Vd3 = 1A x 50 = 50V
Step 4: Check these voltage drops by using Kirchhoff's
Voltage Law : VS = Vd1 + Vd2 + Vd3

100V = 20V + 30V + 50V


THIS PROVES KIRCHHOFF'S VOLTAGE LAW.

Basic Laws of Series Circuits


1. The current is the same throughout the series circuit
T = 1 = 2 = 3 etc
2. The total resistance (RT) is the sum of the individual
resistors i.e. RT = R1 + R2 + R3 etc
3. The sum of the volt drops equals the supply voltage (VS)
VS = Vd1 + Vd2 + Vd3 etc
4. The voltage drop (Vd) across a resistor equals the current
() through the resistor multiplied by the resistance (R) of
the resistor. Vd = x R
5. Ohm's Law can be applied to any part of the series circuit,
if the correct values are used

One Final Conclusion


Objective is to find the value of an unknown resistance & then
calculate the voltage drop against it.
Vd1 = ?

Vd2 =30V

Vd3 ?

50

20

R1

R2

R3

Supply
200 V

The diagram shows three resistors connected in series. The


values of R1 and R2 are known. The supply voltage and the
Voltage drop across R2 are also known. All other values are
unknown.

The Calculation 1
Step 1: Find the current flowing through the circuit by using Ohm's law :
= V
R
Remember, in a series circuit the current is the same in every load in the
circuit.
Use the value for R2 = Vd2 = 30V = 1.5A (The current in the circuit)
R2
20
Step 2: It is now possible to find (b), volt drop across R1
Vd1 = x R1 Vd1 = 1.5A x 50 Vd1 = 75V
Step 3: Resistance R3 can now be found by using one of two methods
SEE THE NEXT SLIDE

The Calculation 2
Step 3: Resistance R3 can now be found by using one of two methods
Method 1:
By using the resistance formula, total Resistance (R T) = VS
T
If RT = R1 + R2 + R3 , then by transposing the formula :
R3 = RT (R1 + R2)
R3 = 133.3 (50 + 20) = 133 70 = 63
Method 2: By using Kirchhoff's Law, VS = Vd1 + Vd2 + Vd3
Transpose for Vd3
Vd3 = VS (Vd1 + Vd2) = 200V (75V + 30V)
Vd3 = 200V 105V = 95V
Using Ohm's Law :

= V = 95 V = 63
1.5A

Review

A series circuit has two or more loads

In a series circuit the current flows in a single path through all the loads

The current is the same at any point in a series circuit


RT = R1 + R2 + R3 etc

The total resistance (RT) in a series circuit equals the sum of all the
resistors in that circuit

An equivalent circuit diagram uses one resistor to represent the total


resistance in a series circuit

The current in a series circuit can be determined using Ohm's Law :


T =
VS
RT

There is a voltage drop across every load. You can find the voltage
drop across a load by using Ohm's Law:
Vd = x R

Kirchhoff's Voltage Law states that the sum of the voltage drops in a
series circuit is equal to the supply voltage of the circuit

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