21.

2 Electric
Circuits
Essential Questions
• What are the characteristics of series and parallel circuits?
• How are currents, potential differences, and equivalent resistances in series circuits
related?
• How are currents, potential differences, and equivalent resistances in parallel circuits
related?

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Where do we use diode ?
• What Do you think series and
parallel circuits mean?
Vocabulary
Review New
• resistance • series circuit
• equivalent resistance
• voltage divider
• parallel circuit

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A River Model
• You can use a mountain river to model an electric circuit.
• Some of the similarities are shown in the table below.

Mountain River Electric Circuit

Water flows downhill. Positive charges move from high
potential to low potential.
Can have one or more streams Can have one or more current paths

Large rocks and other obstacles that Resistors

hinder water flow
Solar energy evaporates groundwater, Battery moves charges from low
causing clouds to form; clouds precipitate potential to high potential.
on the mountaintops.

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Series Circuits
• A circuit in which there is only one path for the current
is called a series circuit.
• The current is the same through the entire series
circuit.
• In an electric circuit, the increase in voltage provided
by the energy source (ΔVsource) is equal to the sum of
voltage drops across resistors.

• Thus, the current through the circuit is

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Series Circuits
• The same current would exist in the circuit with a
singe resistor (R) that has a resistance equal to the sum
of the resistances of the individual resistors. Such a
resistance is called the equivalent resistance of the
circuit.
• The equivalent resistance of resistors in series equals
the sum of the individual resistances of the resistors.

Equivalent Resistance
• for Resistors
Notice in Series
that the equivalent resistance is greater than
that of any individual resistor.

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Series Circuits
• A voltage divider is a series circuit used
to produce a source of potential
difference that is less than the potential
difference across the battery.
• Voltage dividers often are used with
sensors, such as photoresistors.
• The resistance of a photoresistor
depends upon the amount of light
that strikes it and can be used in a
light meter.
• In this device, the potential
difference is converted to a
measurement of illuminance.

Go to your ConnectED resources to play

Animation: Electric Circuits.
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 KNOWN UNKNOWN
Series Circuits
Vsource = 15 V R2 = 22.0 Ω I=?

Use with Example Problem 1.

R1 = 15.0 Ω R3 = 47.0 Ω V3 = ?

Problem A SOLVE FOR THE UNKNOWN

Suppose 15 V are applied across three • Determine the equivalent resistance.
resistors in series (15.0 Ω, 22.0 Ω, and 47.0
Ω). Determine the current in the circuit and
the potential difference across the 47.0-Ω
resistor.
• Use the relationship among potential difference,
Response current, and total resistance to find the current
SKETCH AND ANALYZE THE PROBLEM through the circuit and the potential difference
• Draw a circuit diagram. across R3.
• List the knowns and unknowns.

I R1
R2
EVALUATE THE ANSWER
R3 • Current is in amperes and potential difference is in
volts, so the units are correct.
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Series Circuits
KNOWN UNKNOWN
Use with Example Problem 1. Vsource = 15 V R1 = 15.0 Ω P=? P2 = ?
Problem B I = 0.18 A R2 = 22.0 Ω P1 = ? P3 = ?
Suppose 15 V are applied across three
resistors in series (15.0 Ω, 22.0 Ω, and 47.0 R3 = 47.0 Ω
Ω), as in the previous problem. Demonstrate SOLVE FOR THE UNKNOWN
that the total power is equal to the sum of the • Use the relationship among power, potential
individual power amounts used in the three difference, and current to find the power for the
resistors. whole circuit.
Response
SKETCH AND ANALYZE THE PROBLEM
• Draw a circuit diagram. • Use the relationship among power, current, and
• List the knowns and unknowns. I comes resistance for each resistor.
from the previous problem.

I R1
R2
R3
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 KNOWN UNKNOWN
Series Circuits Vsource = 15 V R1 = 15.0 Ω P=? P2 = ?
I = 0.18 A R2 = 22.0 Ω P1 = ? P3 = ?
Use with Example Problem 1. R3 = 47.0 Ω
Problem B SOLVE FOR THE UNKNOWN
Suppose 15 V are applied across three • Use the relationship among power, potential
resistors in series (15.0 Ω, 22.0 Ω, and 47.0 difference, and current to find the power for the
Ω), as in the previous problem. Demonstrate whole circuit.
that the total power is equal to the sum of the
individual power amounts used in the three
resistors. • Use the relationship among power, current, and
Response resistance for each resistor.
SKETCH AND ANALYZE THE PROBLEM
• Draw a circuit diagram. • Add the individual powers.
• List the knowns and unknowns. I comes
from the previous problem.

I R1 EVALUATE THE ANSWER

R2 • The total power equals the sum of the power for the
individual resistors, as expected.
R3
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 KNOWN UNKNOWN

Series Circuits Vsource = 12.0 V V1, before = ? V2, before = ?

R1 = R2 = 1.5×106 Ω V1, after = ? V2, after = ?
Use with Example Problem 2. RV = 1.0×107 Ω
Problem SOLVE FOR THE UNKNOWN
A voltage divider consisting of two 1.5-MΩ • Before the voltmeter is connected, the potential
resistors is connected to a 12.0-V source. difference across each resistor will be half the supply
Determine the potential difference across each potential difference, or 6.0 V.
resistor before and after a voltmeter is • When the voltmeter is connected, it acts as a parallel
connected, assuming the voltmeter’s resistance resistance:
is 1.0×107 Ω.
Response
SKETCH AND ANALYZE THE PROBLEM
• Draw a circuit diagram. • Find the voltage drop across the parallel combination.
• List the knowns and
unknowns.

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 KNOWN UNKNOWN

Series Circuits Vsource = 12.0 V V1, before = ? V2, before = ?

R1 = R2 = 1.5×106 Ω V1, after = ? V2, after = ?
Use with Example Problem 2. RV = 1.0×107 Ω
Problem SOLVE FOR THE UNKNOWN
A voltage divider consisting of two 1.5-MΩ • Before the voltmeter is connected, the potential
resistors is connected to a 12.0-V source. difference across each resistor will be half the supply
Determine the potential difference across each potential difference, or 6.0 V.
resistor before and after a voltmeter is • When the voltmeter is connected, it acts as a parallel
connected, assuming the voltmeter’s resistance resistance.
is 1.0×107 Ω.
Response • Find the potential difference across the parallel
combination.
SKETCH AND ANALYZE THE PROBLEM
• Draw a circuit diagram.
• List the knowns and • Use the loop rule to find the potential difference
unknowns. across the first resistor.

EVALUATE THE ANSWER

• Potential difference is in volts, so the units are
correct.
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Parallel Circuits
• A circuit in which there are several current paths is called a
parallel circuit.
• In the mountain river model, such a circuit is illustrated by
multiple paths for the water over a waterfall.
• Some paths might have a large flow of water, while
others might have a small flow.
• The sum of the flows, however, is equal to the total flow
of water over the falls.
• In addition, regardless of which channel the water flows
through, the drop in height is the same.
• Similarly, in a parallel electric circuit, the total current is the
sum of the currents through each path, and the potential
difference across each path is the same.
• The current through each resistor in a parallel electric circuit
depends upon the individual resistances.

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How does adding
another resistor
in parallel affect
the resistance?

• The more resistors connected in parallel,

the smaller the equivalent resistance
Page 761
Page 762
Page 763
Page 763
What is ammeter?
What is Voltmeter?
HW
page 765
Parallel Circuits
• The branches of a parallel circuit are independent of each
other. The current through each resistor depends only upon
the potential difference across it and its resistance.

• The total current is the sum of the current in the branches.

• The total current is also equal to the potential difference

across the source divided by the equivalent resistance (R).

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Parallel Circuits
• If the previous equations are combined, the result is a
relationship between potential difference, the individual
resistances, and the equivalent resistances.

• V can be canceled to obtain the relationship between the

equivalent resistance and the individual resistances.

Equivalent Resistance
for Resistors in Parallel
• Placing more resistors in parallel always decreases the
equivalent resistance of a circuit. The resistance decreases
because each new resistor provides an additional path for
current, thereby increasing the total current while the
potential difference remains unchanged.

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Parallel Circuits KNOWN UNKNOWN
Vbattery = 120.0 V Ibattery = ? Req = ?
Use with Example Problem 3.
RA = 50.0 Ω IA = ?
Problem
Four resistors, 50.0 Ω, 40.0 Ω, 30.0 Ω, and 20.0 RB = 40.0 Ω IB = ?
Ω, are connected with a parallel circuit across a RC = 30.0 Ω IC = ?
120.0-V battery. Find the current through each
branch of the circuit, the equivalent resistance RD = 20.0 Ω ID = ?
of the circuit, and the current through the SOLVE FOR THE UNKNOWN
battery. • The potential difference is the same across all
Response four resistors.
• Use the relationship among potential
SKETCH AND ANALYZE THE PROBLEM
difference, current, and resistance.
• Draw and label a circuit diagram.
• List the knowns and unknowns.

I IA IB IC ID

RA RB RC RD

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Parallel Circuits

Use with Example Problem 3. KNOWN UNKNOWN

Problem Vbattery = 120.0 V Ibattery = ? Req = ?

Four resistors, 50.0 Ω, 40.0 Ω, 30.0 Ω, and 20.0 RA = 50.0 Ω IA = 2.4 A
Ω, are connected with a parallel circuit across a
120.0-V battery. Find the current through each RB = 40.0 Ω IB = 3.0 A
branch of the circuit, the equivalent resistance RC = 30.0 Ω IC = 4.0 A
of the circuit, and the current through the
battery. RD = 20.0 Ω ID = 6.0 A
SOLVE FOR THE UNKNOWN
Response
• Determine the equivalent resistance.
SKETCH AND ANALYZE THE PROBLEM
• Draw and label a circuit diagram.
• List the knowns and unknowns.

I IA IB IC ID

RA RB RC RD

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Parallel Circuits KNOWN UNKNOWN
Vbattery = 120.0 V Ibattery = ? Req = 7.79 Ω

Use with Example Problem 3. RA = 50.0 Ω IA = 2.4 A

Problem RB = 40.0 Ω IB = 3.0 A
Four resistors, 50.0 Ω, 40.0 Ω, 30.0 Ω, and 20.0 RC = 30.0 Ω IC = 4.0 A
Ω, are connected with a parallel circuit across a
120.0-V battery. Find the current through each RD = 20.0 Ω ID = 6.0 A
branch of the circuit, the equivalent resistance SOLVE FOR THE UNKNOWN
of the circuit, and the current through the • The current through the battery is equal to the
battery. potential difference across the battery divided
Response by the equivalent resistance.
SKETCH AND ANALYZE THE PROBLEM
• Draw and label a circuit diagram.
• List the knowns and unknowns.

I EVALUATE THE ANSWER

IA IB IC ID • Resistance is measured in ohms and current is
measured in amperes, so the units are correct.
RA RB RC RD • The sum of the currents in the branches equals the
current through the battery.
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Kirchhoff's Rules
• Gustav Robert Kirchhoff was a German physicist who formulated two rules
that govern electric circuits:
• The loop rule
• The junction rule
• The loop rule describes electric potential differences and is based on the law of
conservation of energy.
• It states that the sum of increases in electric potential around a loop in an
electric circuit equals the sum of decreases in electric potential around that
loop.
• For an application, picture an electric
current traveling clockwise around the
red loop in the figure.

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Kirchhoff's Rules
• For an application, picture an electric current traveling clockwise around the
red loop in the figure.
• Electric potential increases by 9V as this charge travels through the battery, and
electric potential drops by 5V as this charge travels through resistor 1.
• By the loop rule, the increases in electric potential around a loop must equal the
decreases in electric potential around that loop. Therefore, the drop in electric
potential across resistor 2 must be 9V – 5V = 4V.
• Note that resistor 3 does not affect our answer
because resistor 3 is not a part of the loop
that includes the battery, resistor 1, and
resistor 2.

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Kirchhoff's Rules
• The junction rule describes currents and is based on the law of conservation of
charge.
• Recall the law of conservation of charge states that charge can neither be
created or destroyed.
• This means that, in an electric circuit, the total current into a section of that
circuit must equal the total current out of that same section.
• A junction is a location where three or more
wires are connected together.
• According to Kirchhoff’s rule, the sum
of currents entering a junction is equal
to the sum of currents leaving that
junction. Otherwise, charge would build
up at the junction.
• In the figure, I1 = I2 + I3 at junction A,
and I2 + I3 = I1 at junction B.

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Review
Essential Questions
• What are the characteristics of series and parallel circuits?
• How are currents, potential differences, and equivalent resistances in series circuits
related?
• How are currents, potential differences, and equivalent resistances in parallel circuits
related?

Vocabulary
• series circuit • voltage divider
• equivalent resistance • parallel circuit

Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education Simple Circuits