Series circuits

Click for a quick introduction on series circuits.

The electric current through a series circuit has only one path to follow. The same current passes through each electrical device attached to the circuit. The flow of electrons through the circuit is resisted by the combined resistance of all the electrical devices. As more and more devices are added to the circuit, the total resistance in the circuit increases and the flow of electrons (current) reduces.

Light globes placed in a series circuit glow less brightly as more and more globes are added. Electrical current stops when one electrical device blows. Click to see a 120 kb video.
A simple circuit is shown on the left. A voltmeter placed across the light globe shows a voltage drop of 9 volts.
As more and more light globes are added, the voltage across each device is divided among the individual devices so that the sum of the voltage drop across each device is equal to the total voltage supplied by the battery.

Exercises

Continue with parallel circuits
The elastic band provides the tension to automatically close the gate. Metal contacts that complete the circuit and cause the light to glow when the gate is shut The light indicating if the gate is open or closed An electromagnet that activates the lock The bolt that is lifted through a scre eye by the electromagnet The gate
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