Index

Resistors in series and parallel combina ons

Circuit Components

Resistors in series

Resistors in parallel

Summary
 Resistors in series and parallel combina ons

A resistor is a passive two-terminal electrical component that implements

electrical resistance as a circuit element. Resistors reduce the current flow

and lower voltage levels within circuits. Most circuits o en have more than

one resistor to limit the flow of charges in a circuit. The two simplest

combina ons of resistors are – series and parallel. In this ar cle, we will be

discussing resistors in series and parallel combina ons.

 Circuit Components

A circuit is composed of conductors (wire), power source, load, resistor, and

switch. A circuit starts and ends at the same point. Usually, copper wire

without insula on is used as a conductor. A switch is used to make or break

a circuit. Resistors control the flow of the electric current in a circuit. A

resistor is a passive element which means that it only consumes power but

does not generate power. A load in a circuit consumes electrical energy and

converts it into other forms of energy like light, heat, etc. A load can be a

light bulb, fan, etc. Now let us know about resistors in series and parallel

combina ons.
 Resistors in series

Two or more resistances are said to be connected in series when they are

connected end to end and the same current flows through each of them in

turn. In this case, the equivalent or the total resistance equals the sum of the

number of individual resistances present in the series combina on.

Mathema cally, the equivalent resistance of any number of resistances (R1,

R2, R3, R4, R5, ……..) connected in series is given as:

Req = R1 + R2 + R3 + R4 + R5 + ……..

Consider a case of three resistances (R1, R2, and R3) connected in series with

each other with the corresponding voltage source (V1, V2, and V3) in a circuit
shown below:
The equivalent current flow through it is I, detected through the ammeter A

and key K.

The equivalent poten al difference is equal to the sum of the individual

poten al difference across each resistor, i.e.

Veq = V1 + V2 + V3

The current I through each resistor is the same i.e. I = I1 = I2 = I3 Replace the

three resistors connected in series by an equivalent single resistor of

resistance Req, such that the poten al difference Veq across its terminals,

and the current I through the circuit remains the same.

Applying Ohm’s law to the circuit:

Veq = IReq

By applying Ohm’s law to all resistors individually as:

V1 = IR1

V2 = IR2

V3 = IR3

Hence, IR= IR1 + IR2 + IR3

or

Req = R1 + R2 + R3

The current through the circuit will remain the same here.

The equivalent poten al difference is the sum of the individual poten al

difference across each resistor.

As a result, equivalent resistance becomes the sum of individual resistances.

The only disadvantage of a series combina on is that, if any resistor in a

series combina on is disrupted or a failure occurs, the whole circuit is

switched off.

The series combina on is needed to increase the resistance and to divide

high poten al differences across many resistances.

Such a combina on is used in resistance boxes, decora ve lights etc.

 Resistors in parallel

Two or more resistances are said to be connected in parallel connected when

they are connected between two points and each has a different current

direc on. The current is branched out and recombined as the branches

intersect at a common point in such circuits.

Mathema cally, the equivalent resistance of any number of resistances (R1,

R2, R3, R4, R5, ……..) connected in parallel is given as:

1/Req = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 + 1/R4 + 1/R5 + ……..

Consider a case of three resistances (R1, R2, and R3) connected in parallel

with each other with the corresponding voltage source (V1, V2, and V3) in a

circuit shown below:

Here, the current flows through each resistor is different therefore, the

equivalent current flown through the circuit is:

Ieq = I1 + I2 + I3

Replace the three resistors connected in parallel by an equivalent single

resistor of the parallel combina on of resistors be Req.

Now, by applying Ohm’s law to the parallel combina on of resistors as:

Ieq = V / Req

On applying Ohm’s law to individual resistors as:

I1 = V / R1

I2 = V / R2

I3 = V / R3

Hence, V / Req = V / R1 + V / R2 + V / R3

or

1 / Req = 1 / R1 + 1 / R2 + 1 / R3

In conclusion, we can say that the reciprocal of the equivalent resistance of

a group of resistances joined in parallel is equal to the sum of the reciprocals

of the individual resistances.

The equivalent current through the circuit is the sum of individual currents

through each branch of the circuit.

The poten al difference across the two terminal points of the circuit remains

the same.

As a result, the reciprocal of equivalent resistance of the circuit is the sum of

reciprocal of the individual resistances.

In a parallel circuit, a resistor or some other component can be easily

connected or disconnected without disturbing the other components.

In parallel combina on, the current flown in the circuit is divided into

different branches and hence each component receives the required amount

of current.

Here, the equivalent resistance is always lesser than all the individual

resistances.

If one of the components fails or shorted, the rest of the components of the

circuit works usually.

 Summary
A circuit comprises conductors (wire), power source, load, resistor and
switch.

Resistors control the flow of the electric current in a circuit.

Two or more resistors are said to be connected in series when the same
amount of current flows through all the resistors.

The following rela on gives the total resistance of a series circuit:

R total = R1 + R2 + ….. + Rn

Two or more resistors are said to be connected in parallel when the voltage
is the same across all the resistors.

The following rela on gives the total resistance of a parallel circuit.

Some mes, resistors in the same circuit can be connected in parallel and
series across different loops to produce a more complex resis ve network.
These circuits are known as mixed resistor circuits.