Circuits, Series and Parallel, Voltage Equation

Series

This is a series circuit, showing the location of an ammeter and voltmeter. The current is the same at all points along the circuit. The sum of the voltage across the individual components is equal to that at the power supply. In older Christmas lights that were wired in series, if one light went out, none of them worked

Parallel

At the junctions, the current splits, but then rejoins at the final junction. Voltage across each component stays the same.Parallel circuits are used in Christmas lights now, because, if one light breaks, the electricity will flow the other route, and the rest of the lights will still function.

This is an important relationship between voltage, resistance and current. It's very simple and outlined in a triangle below, where V = IR; and some units are explained.

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