• Determine the effective resistance

for a number of resistors connected

in series and in parallel.
• For simple and complex circuits,
determine the voltage and current
for each resistor.
• Apply Kirchoff’s laws to find currents
and voltages in complex circuits.
Electrical circuits often contain one or more
resistors grouped together and attached to
an energy source, such as a battery.
The following symbols are often used:
Ground Battery Resistor
+ -

+ - + -
- + - + -
Resistors are said to be connected in series
when there is a single path for the current.
The current I is the same for
R1 each resistor R1, R2 and R3.
I R2
VT R3 The energy gained through E
is lost through R1, R2 and R3.
Only one current
The same is true for voltages:

For
For series
series II == II11 == II22 == II33
connections:
connections: VVTT== VV11 ++ VV22 ++ VV33
The equivalent resistance Re of a number of
resistors connected in series is equal to the
sum of the individual resistances.
VT = V1 + V2 + V3 ; (V = IR)
R1 ITRe = I1R1+ I2R2 + I3R3
I R2
VT R3 But . . . IT = I1 = I2 = I3

Equivalent Resistance RRee == RR11 ++ RR22 ++ RR33

 Re = R 1 + R 2 + R 3
2
3 1 Re = 3  + 2  + 1 = 6 
12 V
Equivalent RRee =
Equivalent = 66 


The current is found from Ohm’s law: V = IRe

V 12 V
I  II =
= 22 AA
Re 6 
 RRee == 66 
 II =
= 22 AA
2
3 1
Current I = 2 A same in each R.
12 V
V1 = IR1; V2 = IR2; V3 = IR3

V1 = (2 A)(1 = 2 V V1 + V2 + V3 = VT

V1 = (2 A)(2 = 4 V 2 V + 4 V + 6 V = 12 V

V1 = (2 A)(3 = 6 V Check

Check !!
The output direction from a - + b
a
source of emf is from + side: E
Thus, from a to b the potential increases by E;
From b to a, the potential decreases by E.
A
Example: Find V for path -
AB and then for path BA. R
9V
AB: V = +9 V – 3 V = +6 V 3V

+
- +
BA: V = +3 V - 9 V = -6 V B
Consider the simple series circuit drawn below:
D A Path ABCD: Energy and V
2 -
increase through the 15-V
4 15 V source and decrease
3V through the 3-V source.
+
- +
C B E = 15 V - 3 V = 12 V

The net gain in potential is lost through the two

resistors: these voltage drops are IR2 and IR4,
so that the sum is zero for the entire loop.
Example 2: Find the current I in the circuit below:
D A  E = 18 V  3 V  15 V
2 -
R = 3  + 2   5 
3 18 V
3V Applying Ohm’s law:
+
- +
C B  E 15 V
I  I=3A
R 5 

In general for a EE

II 
single loop circuit: RR
 R2
Resistance Rule: Re = R
E E2
Current : I R1
R E1

Voltage Rule: E = IR

A complex circuit is one
containing more than a
I3
single loop and different
current paths. R3 E2
R1
At junctions m and n: m n
I1 = I2 + I3 or I2 + I3 = I1 I1
R2 E1
Junction
Junction Rule:
Rule:
I2
II (enter)
(enter) == II (leaving)
(leaving)
Resistors are said to be connected in parallel
when there is more than one path for current.
For Parallel Resistors:
Parallel Connection:
V2 = V4 = V6 = VT
2 4 6
I2 + I4 + I6 = IT

For Series Resistors:

Series Connection:
I2 = I4 = I6 = IT
2 4 6 V2 + V4 + V6 = VT
VT = V1 = V2 = V3 Parallel Connection:
IT = I1 + I2 + I3 VT
R1 R2 R3
V
Ohm’s law: I 
R
VT V1 V2 V3 1 1 1 1
     
Re R1 R2 R3 Re R1 R2 R3

The
The equivalent
equivalent resistance 11 NN 11
resistance 
for
for Parallel
Parallel resistors:
resistors: RRee i R
i11 Ri i
 11 NN 11
 VT R1 R2 R3
RRee i R
i11 Ri i
2 4 6
1 1 1 1
  
Re R1 R2 R3
1 1 1 1
    0.500  0.250  0.167
Re 2  4  6 
1 1
 0.917; Re   1.09  RRee == 1.09
1.09 

Re 0.917

For
For parallel
parallel resistors,
resistors, RReeisis less
less than
than the least RRi.i.
the least
VT R1 R2 R3 VT = 12 V; Re = 1.09 
2 4 6
V1 = V2 = V3 = 12 V
12 V IT = I1 + I2 + I3

V VT 12 V
Ohm’s Law: I  Ie  
R Re 1.09 

Total current: IT = 11.0 A

 VT R1 R2 R3 IT = 11 A; Re = 1.09 
2 4 6 V1 = V2 = V3 = 12 V
12 V IT = I1 + I2 + I3
12 V 12 V 12 V
I1  6A I2  3A I3  2A
2 4 6

6 A + 3 A + 2 A = 11 A Check
Check !!
 The equivalent resistance Re for two parallel
resistors is the product divided by the sum.
1 1 1 RR11RR22
  ; RRee 
Re R1 R2 RR11  RR22

Example: (3 )(6 )
VT R1 R2 Re 
3  6 
6 3
RRee == 22 

In complex circuits resistors are often connected
in both series and parallel. R 1

In
In such
such cases,
cases, it’s
it’s best
best to
to VT R2 R3
use
use rules
rules for
for series
series andand
parallel
parallel resistances
resistances to to
reduce
reduce the
the circuit
circuit toto aa
simple
simple circuit
circuit containing
containing
one
one source
source ofof emf
emf andand VT Re
one
one equivalent
equivalent resistance.
resistance.
 (3 )(6 )
4 R3,6   2
3  6 
VT 3 6
Re = 4  + 2 
RRee== 66 


4

12 V 2 12 V 6
 RRee== 66 

4
VT 12 V
VT 3 6 I 
Re 6 
IITT== 2.00
2.00 AA

4
IT
12 V 2 12 V 6
 4 II44 == IITT == 22 AA

VT 3 6 V4 = (2 A)(4 ) = 8 V

The remainder of the voltage: (12 V – 8 V = 4 V)

drops across EACH of the parallel resistors.

This
This can
can also
also be
be found
found from
from
VV33 == VV66 == 44 VV VV3,6 = I 3,6RR3,6 = (2 A)(2 )
3,6 = I3,6 3,6 = (2 A)(2 )

(Continued . . .)
VV44 == 88 VV VV66 == VV33 == 44 VV 4

V3 4 V VT 3 6
I3   II33 == 1.33
1.33 AA
R3 3 
V6 4 V
I6   II66 == 0.667
0.667 AA II44 == 22 AA
R6 6 

Note that the junction rule is satisfied:

II (enter)
(enter) == II (leaving)
(leaving) IITT == II44 == II33 ++ II66