Comparing Series & Parallel Circuits Flashcards

All 6 cards in this deck

What is true about the current at every point in a series circuit?

It is the same at every point in the circuit.

How is the potential difference of the supply shared in a series circuit?

It is shared between the components; the p.d.s across the components add up to the supply p.d.

How do the branch currents relate to the current from the battery in a parallel circuit?

The currents in the branches add up to the current coming from the battery.

True or false? In a parallel circuit the potential difference across each branch is the same as the supply potential difference.

True. Each branch is connected directly across the supply, so each gets the full p.d.

In a series circuit, what happens to the other components if one component breaks?

They all stop working, because the only path for the current is broken.

In a parallel circuit, what happens to the other branches if one branch breaks?

They keep working, because each branch is connected to the supply separately.