Series And Parallel Circuits : Definition and Difference

Electrical circuits are circuits made of electric components through which an electric current can pass. The electric circuit includes batteries, wires, resistors, etc. Series and parallel circuits are types of electrical circuits. Series circuits are the circuit in which the circuit components are connected successively. In the series circuit, all the components in the circuit experience the same current. Parallel circuits are in which the components are connected parallel to each other. In the parallel circuit, components are connected with the same point of contact. All components connected in parallel circuit experiences different current for each component.

What is Series Circuit?

A series circuit refers to a circuit in which all the circuit components are connected in a successive manner. The current in all the components of these circuits is constant. The voltage in all the components of these circuits is variable.

• In a series circuit, one end of the component is connected to the end of another component.
• If one component connected with other components in a series does not work the whole circuit fails.

• The resultant voltage V = V₁ + V₂ + V₃ in the above circuit, where V₁ is the voltage across R₁, V₂ is the voltage across R_2, and V₃ is the voltage across R₃.
• The resultant current I = I₁ = I₂ = I₃ in the above circuit, where I₁ is currently flowing through R₁, I₂ is currently flowing through R₂ and I₃ is currently flowing through R₃.
• The resultant resistance for the above circuit is given by R = R₁ + R₂ + R₃

What is Parallel Circuit?

Parallel circuits refer to the circuit in which all the circuit components are connected parallelly with the same point of contact. The voltage in all the components of these circuits is constant. The current in all the components of these circuits is variable.

• In a parallel circuit, all the components are connected side by side using the same point.
• If one component in the circuit does not work, it does not affect the circuit.

• The resultant voltage V = V₁ = V₂ = V₃ in the above circuit, where V₁ is the voltage across R₁, V₂ is the voltage across R_2, and V₃ is the voltage across R₃.
• The resultant current I = I₁ + I₂ + I₃ in the above circuit, where I₁ is currently flowing through R₁, I₂ is currently flowing through R₂ and I₃ is currently flowing through R₃.
• The resultant resistance for the above circuit is given by R = 1/R₁ + 1/R₂ + 1/ R₃

Similarities Between Series and Parallel Circuits

• Both series and parallel circuits are types of electrical circuits.
• Any number of components like resistors etc. can be connected in both series and parallel circuits.
• The purpose of the parallel of both series circuits is to control the flow of current.

Difference Between Series and Parallel Circuits

The differences between Series and Parallel Circuits are shown below:

Characterization	Series Circuit	Parallel Circuit
Definition	A series circuit is a circuit in which the circuit components are connected one after the other.	A parallel circuit is a circuit in which the circuit components are connected in parallel with the same point.
Arrangement	Components are connected in line.	Components are connected parallel to each other.
Current	Similar current flows through each component.	Different current flows through each component.
Voltage	Different voltages across each component.	The identical voltage across each component.
Path	It has only one path.	It has more than one path.
Total current	The total current in the circuit I = I 1 = I 2 = I 3	The total current in the circuit I = I 1 + I 2 + I 3
Total voltage	Total voltage in the circuit V = V 1 + V 2 + V 3	Total voltage in the circuit V = V 1 = V 2 = V 3
Total resistance	The total resistance in the circuit is given by R = R 1 + R 2 + R 3	The total resistance in the circuit is given by R = 1/R 1 + 1/R 2 +1/R 3
Circuit failure	If one component does not work the whole circuit fails.	If one component does not work, no effect on the other components of the circuit.
Circuit diagram

Conclusion

From the above description, we learned that in a series circuit components are connected one after the other with constant current and variable voltages across each component in a line whereas in parallel circuit components are connected parallel to each other with the same point and voltage but the different current flowing through each component. If one component in a series circuit fails the whole circuit fails whereas in a parallel circuit if one component fails it does not affect the entire circuit. 

FAQs on Series And Parallel Circuits

1. What are series circuits?

A series circuit is a circuit in which all the components are connected in a line. In a series circuit, the current is constant for all components whereas voltage is variable for each component.

2. What are parallel circuits?

Parallel circuits are circuits in which all the components are connected in parallel sharing the same point. In a parallel circuit, the voltage is constant for all components whereas the current is variable for each component.

3. State the total resistance formula for the series circuit.

Total resistance formula for a series circuit is given by R = R₁ + R₂ …..+ R_n 

4. Specify the total current in the parallel circuit.

The total current in the parallel circuit is given by I = I₁ + I₂ + …. + I_n