Series Circuit Current Property (Lesson 4c)


In any Series Ciurcuit, the total current in the circuit is the same as the current through any individual component.

This is very important property of Series Circuits. By this property, the current flowing through one particular component, is the same as the total current flowing through the circuit, as the same flowing through any other component.

Expressed in Algebraic Form: It = I1 = I2 = I3 = .....= In
where n is the last component of the circuit.

As you can see from Diagram above, the total current (It) of the Circuit is the same as each individual component current. (2 Amps.)

Ohm's law can now be applied to find the equivalent resistance of the Circuit (Req). This is done using the total current and the applied Voltage emf:/battery. (See Series Circuit Equivalent Resistance - last topic.) By implementing Ohm's law to the Diagram above, we can see that the equivalent Resistance of this circuit (Req) is equal to 6 ohms. (12 V / 2 A).

By the same token, Ohm's law can be applied to each individual component. Since the Resistors a,b, and c are given (1, 2 and 3 ohms respectively), we can use Ohm's law to find the Voltage across each Resistor individually. V = I x R
Voltage across Resistor Ra is equal to 2 A x 1 ohm = 2 Volts.
Voltage across Resistor Rb is equal to 2 A x 2 ohm = 4 volts.
Voltage across Resistor Rc is equal to 2 A x 3 ohms = 6 volts.

Next topic: Series Circuit Voltage Property (Lesson 4d)
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