Parallel & Series Circuits, And

How They Function

A research paper by : Youssef Bedair

Ahmed Ewis
Adham Ibrahim
Mostafa Mohamed

For Subject : Physics (WPH12)

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What are series and Parallel Circuits ?  

Series :-
A series circuit is one that has more than one resistor, but only one path
through which the electricity (electrons) flows. From one end of the cell
(battery), the electrons move along one path with NO branches, through
the resistors, to the other end of the cell. All the components in a series
circuit are connected end-to-end.

Parallel :-
A parallel circuit is a closed circuit in which the current divides into two or
more paths before recombining to complete the circuit. Each load
connected in a separate path receives the full circuit voltage, and the total
circuit current is equal to the sum of the individual branch currents.

Battery Connections in Circuits :- 

Series :-
Batteries are connected in series to increase the Potential Difference of a
battery, so it is able to drive bigger devices. For Example, two 3.4v,
1400mAh cells joined in series would create a 6.8v output at 1400mAh

Parallel :-
Parallel battery connections on the other hand increase battery capacity,
So it is able to supply electricity for longer, at the same voltage of a single
cell. For Example, two 3.4v, 1400mAh cells joined together in Parallel
would create a 3.4v Output at 2800mAh
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Uses for Parallel and Series Circuits :- 

Series :-
Series  circuit  connections  are 
common  and  greatly  employed 
in  electrical  equipment.  The 
tube  filaments  in  small  radios 
are  usually  in  series.  Current 
controlling  devices  are  always connected in series with the device that they 
protect.  Fuses  are  connected  in  series  with  the  device  they  protect, 
Automatic  house-heating  equipment  has  a  thermostat,  electromagnetic 
coils,  and  safety  cut-outs  connected  in  series  with  a  voltage  source  etc. 
Other  appliances which use series circuits include water heaters, well water 
pumps, lamps, freezers and refrigerators. 
 
 
Parallel :-
Parallel circuits are used inside many electrical devices and appliances.
The main reason parallel circuitry is used in this context is to take
advantage of more than one power source, like when more than one
battery is being used in a portable device. Using parallel circuits, a device
takes an equal amount of power from different sources and combines it on
the same line. Parallel circuits have also made devices like Christmas lights
more reliable.
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Calculating The Resistance of Circuits :-

Series :-
To Calculate the Resistance in a series circuit, All the resistance values of
the resistors are added to each other to calculate total resistance.

For example, in this circuit shown, the resistance

total would be R​1 ​+ R​2​ + R​3​ = R​t

Parallel :-
To Calculate Resistance in a Parallel circuit, You must first add the
exponent (​-1​) To all the Resistance values, then add them to calculate 1​​ /​Rt ,​
Then Add the exponent (​-1​) To calculate R​T

For Example , In this Circuit, The

Resistance total would be
(​1​/​R1​)+(​1​/​R2​)+(​1​/​R3​)=(​1​/​Rt​)