3 Series Circuit

Module 3–Series Circuit

Learning After finishing this module, you are expected to:
Objectives
1. Calculate the total resistance connected in series.
2. Calculate unknown voltage, current and power in
series circuit.
3. Understand the characteristics of series circuit.

Topics 1.1. Overview

1.2. Series Resistive Circuit.
1.3. Voltage drop in series circuit.
1.4. Power dissipated in series resistive circuit.
1.5. Illustrative examples

Introductory Circuit Analysis, 10th Edition, Boylestad

Electrical Circuits Theory and Technology, 3rd Edition, John Bird 2007
Fundamentals of Electric Circuits, Third Edition, Charles A. Alexander & Matthew N.O. Sadiku

Warm Up:
Give three things that you expect you will learn in this module.
1. _________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________________
_____________

Pre-Test: From the circuit shown calculate the following.

1. Total resistance
2. Total current
3. Voltage drop across each resistor
4. Total power consumed by the circuit.

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1.0 Overview

Two types of current are readily available to the consumer today. One is
direct current (dc), in which ideally the flow of charge (current) does not change in
magnitude (or direction) with time. The other is sinusoidal alternating current (ac),
in which the flow of charge is continually changing in magnitude (and direction)
with time. The next few chapters are an introduction to circuit analysis purely from
a dc approach. The methods and concepts will be discussed in detail for direct
current; when possible, a short discussion will suffice to cover any variations we
might encounter when we consider ac in the later chapters.(Robert L. Boylestad).

2.0 Series Resistive Circuit

A series resistive circuit consists of any number of elements joined at
terminal points, providing at least one closed path through which charge can flow.

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. (Robert L. Boylestad)

A Series circuit has the following characteristics:

1. The current (I) is the same in all parts of the series circuit.
2. The sum of the voltage drops across each resistors/elements is
equal to the total applied voltage.
3. 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, Figure 2.1.

R = R + R + R + …+ R (Ohms, ) → (2.1)

E = V + V + V + … + V (Volts, V) → (2.2)

Figure 2.1: Series Circuit

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 3 Series Circuit

The power delivered to each resistor can then be determined using

any one of three equations as listed below for R1:

3.0 Voltage drop in series resistive circuit

Voltage drop is the decrease of electrical potential along the path of

a current flowing in an electrical circuit. Voltage drops in the internal
resistance of the source, across conductors, across contacts, and
across connectors are undesirable because some of the energy supplied is
dissipated. The voltage drop across the electrical load is proportional to the
power available to be converted in that load to some other useful form of
energy.(Wikipedia)

The voltage drops across each resistor using Ohm’s Law is,

𝑉 =𝐼 𝑅 ; 𝑉 =𝐼 𝑅 ; 𝑉 =𝐼 𝑅 ; 𝑉 =𝐼 𝑅 → (2.3)

In series, 𝐼 = 𝐼 = 𝐼 = 𝐼 = 𝐼

4.0 Power dissipated in series resistive circuit

𝑉
𝑃 =𝑉𝐼 =𝐼 𝑅 = (𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑠) → (2.4)
𝑅

The power delivered by the source is

𝑃 = (𝐸 )(𝐼 ) 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑠, 𝑊 → (2.5)

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

That is,
𝑃 = 𝑃 + 𝑃 + 𝑃 + ⋯+ 𝑃 (𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑠, 𝑊) → (2.6)

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 3 Series Circuit

5.0. Illustrative Examples:

Example 2.1
a. Find the total resistance for the series circuit of Figure 2.2.
b. Calculate the source current Is.
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).

Figure 2.2 for example 2.1

Solution:

a. 𝑅 = 𝑅 + 𝑅 + 𝑅 = 12 + 6 + 8 = 26 Ω

b. 𝐼 = = = 0.923 Amps.

c. 𝑉 = 𝐼𝑅 = (0.923)(12) = 11.077 𝑉
𝑉 = 𝐼𝑅 = (0.923)(6) = 5.538 𝑉

𝑉 = 𝐼𝑅 = (0.923)(8) = 7.385 𝑉

d. 𝑃 = 𝑉 𝐼 = (11.077)(0.923) = 10.223 𝑊
𝑃 = 𝐼 𝑅 = (0.923 )(6) = 5.112 𝑊

𝑉 (7.384)
𝑃 = = = 6.815 𝑊
𝑅 8

e. 𝑃 = 𝐸𝐼 = (24)(0.923) = 22.152 𝑊
𝑃 =𝑃 +𝑃 +𝑃
22.152 𝑊 = 10.223 + 5.112 + 6.817
22.152 𝑊 = 22.152 𝑊 (𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑐𝑘)

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 3 Series Circuit
Example 2.2 Given RT and I, calculate a). R2, b). E for the circuit of Figure 2.3.

Figure 2.3 of example 2.2

Solution:

a. 𝑅 = 𝑅 + 𝑅 + 𝑅
16𝑘 = 4𝑘 + 𝑅 + 3𝑘
𝑅 = 16𝑘 − 4𝑘 − 3𝑘
𝑅 = 9𝑘

b. 𝐸 = 𝐼 𝑥𝑅
𝐸 = (8𝑥10 𝐴)(16𝑥10 Ω)
𝐸 = 124 𝑉

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LECvF5VCz1w&t=414s
Watch this video explaining the series resistive electrical circuits.

Do-it-Yourself

Practice Solving the problem.

1. From the circuit shown below, calculate, (Boylestad, p.163)

a. Total resistance
b. Voltage drop across each resistors
c. Power consumed by each resistors

Reading Assignment: Chapter 3, pages 163 – 165 of Introductory Circuit

Analysis, 3rd Edition, Robert L. Boylestad.

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WORKSHEET No. 4

Name: _____________________________________ Course/Year: ___________

Instructor: __________________________________ Rating: ________________

Instructions: Solve the following problems and write the solution on the space
provided.

PROBLEMS:

1. From the circuit shown in Figure 2.4, determine the following

a. The total resistance for the series circuit of Figure 6
b. Calculate the source current Is.
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).

Figure 2.4 of problem 1

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 3 Series Circuit

2. Given RT and E, calculate a). R, b). I and c). voltage drop across each
resistor for the circuit of Figure 2.5.

Figure 2.5 of problem 2

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3. Three resistors are connected in series (Figure 2.6) across a 12-V battery.
The first resistor has a value of 1 Ω, second has a voltage drop of 4 V and
the third has a power dissipation of 12 W. Calculate a). The value of the
circuit current; b) the value or resistor R2 and R3.

Figure 2.6 of problem 3

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4. For each network of Figure 2.7, determine a). the current I, b). the source
voltage E, and c). the unknown resistance, and the voltage across each
element.

Figure 2.7 of problem 4.

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 3 Series Circuit

5. From the circuit shown in Figure 2.8, determine a). R1 and R2 and b). Total
current, I.

Figure 2.8 of problem 5

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