06/09/2023, 19:44 Series and Parallel Circuits

Series and Parallel Circuits

Car headlights are made with parallel
circuits. This means that if one bulb
broke the other bulbs will still continue
to function. This is good for cars
because you won't be left with no lights
when one stops working.

Christmas lights on the other hand,

used to be made with series circuits. As
a result, if one bulb were to go out, all
the others would cease to function as
well.

The differences between a series and parallel circuit.

Type of
Current Potential Difference (voltage/p.d.)
circuit

Series Same everywhere in the circuit Shared across components

Splits and is shared between

Parallel Same as the battery's p.d. in all parts
branches

Explanation to table above:

In a series circuit, the current flows through one continuous pathway. All components in a
series circuit are on the same path. Therefore, the current is the same in all parts of a series
circuit:

In a parallel circuit, the current divides at the point where there are circuit branches and then
recombines to complete the circuit. Current is shared between branches:

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06/09/2023, 19:44 Series and Parallel Circuits

As more bulbs are added in series, each bulb has less potential difference and so the bulbs
become dimmer. The voltage is shared across the components:

In a parallel circuit, the potential difference across each component is the same as the battery.
Bulbs in a parallel are brighter than in series. BUT the battery is used up quicker:

Task

Can you explain why the bulbs are dimmer/brighter and why the ammeter reading are
bigger/smaller?

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