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Questions and Answers
In a series circuit, how is the current distributed?
In a series circuit, how is the current distributed?
What does Kirchoff's first law state about current in a circuit junction?
What does Kirchoff's first law state about current in a circuit junction?
What happens to the sum of currents in each parallel set of branches in a parallel circuit?
What happens to the sum of currents in each parallel set of branches in a parallel circuit?
According to Kirchoff's second law, what is the sum of all voltages in a series circuit?
According to Kirchoff's second law, what is the sum of all voltages in a series circuit?
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How is potential difference distributed across all elements in a series circuit?
How is potential difference distributed across all elements in a series circuit?
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What does the principle of conservation of energy state about energy in a closed system?
What does the principle of conservation of energy state about energy in a closed system?
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What is the total voltage in a series circuit with three resistors, each having a resistance of $R1$, $R2$, and $R3$?
What is the total voltage in a series circuit with three resistors, each having a resistance of $R1$, $R2$, and $R3$?
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What is the equivalent resistance in a parallel circuit with three resistors, $R1$, $R2$, and $R3$?
What is the equivalent resistance in a parallel circuit with three resistors, $R1$, $R2$, and $R3$?
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What does Kirchoff's second law state about the voltages in a series circuit?
What does Kirchoff's second law state about the voltages in a series circuit?
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In a series circuit, how does the total resistance compare to individual resistances?
In a series circuit, how does the total resistance compare to individual resistances?
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What happens to the current in a series circuit when more resistors are added?
What happens to the current in a series circuit when more resistors are added?
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What does Ohm's law relate in an electrical circuit?
What does Ohm's law relate in an electrical circuit?
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What is the key difference between a series circuit and a parallel circuit?
What is the key difference between a series circuit and a parallel circuit?
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How can you determine the total resistance in a series circuit with three resistors of different values?
How can you determine the total resistance in a series circuit with three resistors of different values?
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What enables us to calculate the voltage across each resistor in a series circuit?
What enables us to calculate the voltage across each resistor in a series circuit?
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In a parallel circuit, what happens if one branch has a lower resistance compared to others?
In a parallel circuit, what happens if one branch has a lower resistance compared to others?
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Which law states that the sum of currents entering a junction must equal the sum of currents leaving the junction?
Which law states that the sum of currents entering a junction must equal the sum of currents leaving the junction?
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Study Notes
Charge Conservation
- Kirchoff's first law: The total current flowing into a junction is equal to the current flowing out of that junction.
- In a series circuit, the current is the same everywhere in the circuit.
- In a parallel circuit, the sum of the currents in each parallel set of branches is equal to the total current.
Energy Conservation
- The principle of energy conservation states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but can be transferred from one form to another.
- In a closed system, the total energy remains constant.
- Kirchoff's second law: The sum of all the voltages in a series circuit is equal to the battery voltage, or the sum of all the voltages in a loop is zero.
Series Circuits
- The battery p.d is shared across all elements in the circuit, and the sum of the voltages across all elements is equal to the supply p.d.
- Kirchoff's second law can be applied to find the total voltage: V = V1 + V2 + V3
- The total resistance in a series circuit is RT = R1 + R2 + R3 + ...
Parallel Circuits
- The potential difference across each branch is the same.
- The current in each branch can be found using Ohm's law: I1 = V/R1, I2 = V/R2, I3 = V/R3
- The total current is the sum of the currents in each branch: I = I1 + I2 + I3
- The total resistance in a parallel circuit is 1/RT = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 + ...
Combining Resistances
- For series circuits, the total resistance is RT = R1 + R2 + R3 + ...
- For parallel circuits, the total resistance is 1/RT = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 + ...
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Description
Learn about Kirchoff’s first law in circuits, which states that the total current flowing into a junction is equal to the current flowing out. Understand how charge conservation leads to the distribution of current in series and parallel circuits.
