Table of Contents
- 1 Are currents the same in a circuit?
- 2 Why the current is different for different components?
- 3 What is the current equal to in a series circuit?
- 4 Why is the current different in a parallel circuit?
- 5 What is the electric potential difference across a resistor?
- 6 What is the difference between supply current and current in parallel?
Are currents the same in a circuit?
The amount of current in a series circuit is the same through any component in the circuit. This is because there is only one path for current flow in a series circuit.
Does current flow same everywhere in a series circuit?
For a series circuit with no branching locations, the current is everywhere the same. The current at the battery location is the same as the current at each resistor location. Subsequently, the 1.5 amp is the value of I1, I2, and I3.
Why the current is different for different components?
Explanation: In short due to, movement of electrons is different in different materials. Hence, the current is different for different components.
Why the flow of current varies in different parts of a parallel circuit?
The current along the branch with the smallest resistance will be larger than the branch with higher resistance. So the sum of the currents in the parallel branches will always be equal to the current before the junction. If the resistance in one branch is decreased the current will increase along that branch.
What is the current equal to in a series circuit?
The total current in a series circuit is the same as the current through any resistance of the circuit. This total circuit current would remain the same through all the individual circuit resistors.
Why does current vary in a parallel circuit?
A Parallel circuit is one with several different paths for the electricity to travel. As you add more and more branches to the circuit the total current will increase because Ohm’s Law states that the lower the resistance, the higher the current.
Why is the current different in a parallel circuit?
Does current flow through the same resistor in a parallel circuit?
For example, although the parallel combination has the same voltage across it, the resistances could be different therefore the current flowing through each resistor would definitely be different as determined by Ohms Law. Consider the two resistors in parallel above.
What is the electric potential difference across a resistor?
In parallel circuits, the electric potential difference across each resistor (ΔV) is the same. The current in a resistor follows Ohm’s law: I = ΔV / R. Since the ΔV is the same for each resistor, the current will be smallest where the resistance is greatest.
What is the relationship between resistance and current in a circuit?
The total resistance of a number of resistors in series is equal to the sum of all the individual resistances. In this circuit the following applies. Adding components in series increases the total resistance in a circuit. When resistors are connected in parallel, the supply current is equal to the sum of the currents through each resistor.
What is the difference between supply current and current in parallel?
The currents in the branches of a parallel circuit add up to the supply current. When resistors are connected in parallel, they have the same potential difference across them. Any components in parallel have the same potential difference across them.