Series vs Parallel
Class 10 Science: electricity (resistors in series and parallel)
Join 1, 2 or 3 bulbs to a 6 V battery in series or in parallel. Compare the brightness, then unscrew a bulb and see what the others do.
Words to know
- Series
- Parts joined one after another in a single path. R = R1 + R2 + R3.
- Parallel
- Parts joined side by side, each on its own path. 1/R = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3.
- Resistance
- How much a part opposes the current. Unit: ohm (Ω).
- Potential difference
- The 'push' that drives current, measured in volts (V).
- Ohm's law
- V = I × R.
Quick check
Answer 3 questions to check what you learned.
Try at home
Look at a festival light string. If one small bulb fuses and the whole string goes dark, are the bulbs in series or parallel? What about the lights in your home?