MEPX
Chapter 4 of 10All chapters
  1. 1Charge and current
  2. 2Voltage
  3. 3Resistance and Ohm law
  4. 4Series and parallel
  5. 5Power and energy
  6. 6Components
  7. 7AC and DC
  8. 8Electrical safety
  9. 9Reading a circuit diagram
  10. 10Everyday electricity

Chapter 4 of 10

Series and parallel

Two ways to connect things.

Series

Components in a line share one path, so the current is the same through each and the voltage divides among them. Adding resistances in series adds them up.

  • One break stops everything, which is why old fairy lights all failed together.
  • Total resistance in series is simply the sum.

Parallel

Components on separate branches share the same voltage and split the current. Total resistance falls as branches are added, which is why household sockets are wired this way.