‫وزارة التعليم العالي والبحث العلمي‬

‫جامعة المستقبل‬

LEC : TWO

Course Name : Fundamentals of Electricity

Instructor Name : Zahraa Hazem Obaid
Stage : First
Academic Year : 2023
Lecture Title : Series DC Circuits

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 SERIES DC CIRCUITS
A circuit consists of any number of elements
joined at terminal points, providing at least one
closed path through which charge can flow. The
circuit of Fig. 2.1(a) has three elements joined at
three terminal points (a, b, and c) to provide a
closed path for the current I.
Two elements are in series if
1.They have only one terminal in common (i.e., one
lead of one is connected to only one lead of the
other).
2.The common point between the two elements is
not connected to another current-carrying element.
If the circuit of Fig. 2.1(a) is modified such that a
current-carrying resistor R3 is introduced, as shown in
Fig. 2.1(b), the resistors R1 and R2 are no longer in
series due to a violation of number 2 of the above
definition of series elements. Fig.2.1
(a) Series circuit; (b) situation in
which R1 and R2 are not in series.

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The total resistance of a series circuit is the sum of the resistance levels.

In general, to find the total resistance of N resistors in series, the following equation is applied:

Once RT is known, the current drawn

from the source can be determined
using Ohm’s law, as follows:

The fact that the current is the same through each element of Fig. 2.1(a) permits a direct
calculation of the voltage across each resistor using Ohm’s law; that is,

The total power delivered to a resistive

circuit is equal to the total power
dissipated by the resistive elements.

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EXAMPLE 2.1
a. Find the total resistance for the series circuit shown.
b. Calculate the source current I.
c. Determine the voltages V1, V2, and V3.
d. Calculate the power dissipated by R1, R2 and R3.
e.Determine the power delivered by the source, and
compare it to the sum of the power levels of part (d).

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EXAMPLE 2.2 Given RT and I, calculate R1 and E for the circuit shown.

VOLTAGE SOURCES IN SERIES

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KIRCHHOFF’S VOLTAGE LAW
Kirchhoff’s voltage law (KVL) states that the algebraic sum of the potential rises and drops
around a closed loop (or path) is zero.

A closed loop is any continuous path that leaves a point in one direction and returns to that
same point from another direction without leaving the circuit.

Kirchhoff’s voltage law can also be stated in

the following form:

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EXAMPLE 2.3 Determine the unknown voltages for the networks shown.

Using the clockwise direction for the other

loop involving R2 and R3 will result in

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EXAMPLE 2.4 Find V1 and V2 for the network shown.

For path 1, starting at point a in a clockwise direction:

For path 2, starting at point a in a clockwise direction:

The minus sign simply indicates that the actual polarities of the potential difference are
opposite the assumed polarity indicated in figure.

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EXAMPLE 2.5 For the circuit shown.
a. Find RT.
b. Find I.
c. Find VT and V1.
d. Find the power to the 4-Ω and 6-Ω resistors.
e. Find the power delivered by the battery, and
compare it to that dissipated by the 4- Ω and
6- Ω resistors combined.
f. Verify Kirchhoff’s voltage law (clockwise
direction).

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VOLTAGE DIVIDER RULE
In a series circuit, the voltage across the resistive elements will divide as the magnitude of the
resistance levels.

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EXAMPLE 2.6 Using the voltage divider rule, determine the voltages V1and V3for the series
circuit shown.

The rule can be extended to the voltage across two or more series elements if the resistance is
expanded to include the total resistance of the series elements that the voltage is to be found
across (R'); that is,

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EXAMPLE 2.7 Design the voltage divider shown such that VR1= 4VR2.

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Voltage Sources and Ground

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Double-Subscript Notation
The two points that define the voltage across the resistor R are denoted by a and b. Since a is
the first subscript for Vab, point a must have a higher potential than point b if Vab is to have a
positive value. If, in fact, point b is at a higher potential than point a, Vab will have a negative
value, as indicated in Figure.

Single-Subscript Notation

If point b of the notation Vab is specified as ground

potential (zero volts), then a single-subscript
notation can be employed that provides the
voltage at a point with respect to ground.

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EXAMPLE 2.8 Find the voltages Vb, Vc, and Vac for the network shown.

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EXAMPLE 2.9 Determine Vab, Vcb, and Vc for the network shown.
Note that there is a 54-V drop across the series resistors R1
and R2. The current can then be determined using Ohm’s
Law and the voltage levels as follows:

The other approach is to redraw the network as shown

to clearly establish the aiding effect of E1 and E2 and
then solve the resulting series circuit.

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INTERNAL RESISTANCE OF VOLTAGE SOURCES

(a) Sources of dc voltage; (b) equivalent circuit.

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EXAMPLE 2.10 Before a load is applied, the terminal voltage of the power supply of Fig.(a) is set
to 40 V. When a load of 500Ω is attached, as shown in Fig. (b), the terminal voltage drops to
38.5 V. What happened to the remainder of the no-load voltage, and what is the internal
resistance of the source?
The difference of 40 V - 38.5 V = 1.5 V now appears
across the internal resistance of the source. The
load current is
38.5 V/0.5 k = 77 mA.

EXAMPLE 2.11 The battery of Fig. shown has an internal resistance of 2Ω . Find the voltage VL
and the power lost to the internal resistance if the applied load is a 13-Ω resistor.

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 PROBLEMS

SECTION 5.2 Series Resistors

2. Find the total resistance RT for each circuit shown.

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3. For each circuit board in Fig., find the total resistance between connection tabs 1 and 2.

4. For the circuit in Fig., composed of standard

values:
a. Which resistor will have the most impact on
the total resistance?
b.On an approximate basis, which resistors can be
ignored when determining the total resistance?
c. Find the total resistance, and comment on your
results for parts (a) and (b).
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5. For each configuration in Fig., find the unknown resistors using the ohmmeter reading.

7. For the series configuration in Fig.:

a. Find the total resistance.
b. Calculate the current.
c. Find the voltage across each resistive
element.

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10. For each network in Fig. , constructed of standard values, determine:
a. The current I. b. The source voltage E. c. The unknown resistance. d. The voltage across each
element.

14. Find the unknown quantities for the circuits in Fig. using the information provided.

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19. Find the unknown voltage source and resistor for the networks in Fig. First combine the
series voltage sources into a single source. Indicate the direction of the resulting current.

SECTION 5.6 Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law

20. Using Kirchhoff’s voltage

law, find the unknown
voltages for the circuit
shown.

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22. Using Kirchhoff’s voltage law, determine the unknown voltages for the series circuits shown.

SECTION 5.7 Voltage Division in a Series Circuit

24. Determine the values of the

unknown resistors in Fig. using the
provided voltage levels.

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26. Using the voltage divider rule, find the indicated voltages in Fig.

28. Using the information provided, find the unknown quantities of Fig.

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31. Design a voltage divider circuit that will permit the use of an 8 V, 50 mA bulb in an
automobile with a 12 V electrical system.

34. a. Design the circuit in Fig. such that VR2 = 3VR1

and VR3 = 4VR2.
b. If the current is reduced to 10 mA, what are the
new values R1, R2, and R3? How do they compare to
the results of part (a)?

SECTION 5.9 Notation

35. Determine the voltages Va, Vb, and Vab for the networks shown

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