What are the characteristics of a series circuit?

A series circuit has components connected end-to-end, forming a single path for current to flow.

In a series circuit, the current that flows through each component is the same because there is only one path for the current to take. This means that if you measure the current at any point in the circuit, it will be the same value. This is a key characteristic that differentiates series circuits from parallel circuits, where the current can split and take multiple paths.

Another important feature of series circuits is that the total voltage across the circuit is the sum of the voltages across each individual component. For example, if you have three resistors in series and you know the voltage drop across each resistor, you can add these voltages together to find the total voltage supplied by the power source. This is described by Kirchhoff's Voltage Law, which states that the sum of the electrical potential differences around any closed circuit loop must be zero.

In terms of resistance, the total or equivalent resistance of a series circuit is the sum of the resistances of each component. This means that adding more resistors in series will increase the overall resistance of the circuit. For instance, if you have three resistors with resistances of 2 ohms, 3 ohms, and 5 ohms, the total resistance in the series circuit would be 10 ohms.

One downside of series circuits is that if one component fails or is disconnected, the entire circuit is broken and current will stop flowing. This is because the single path for current is interrupted. This characteristic makes series circuits less reliable for applications where continuous operation is crucial, such as in household wiring.

Overall, understanding the characteristics of series circuits is fundamental for analysing and designing electrical circuits, especially when considering how current, voltage, and resistance interact within the circuit.