Electric Circuits: Series Voltage, Parallel Voltage & Open Circuits

[soccerjayl]

In electric circuits, you know how parallel voltage is the same throughout, but series voltage adds up to the supply.

What if there is a battery connected in series to two resistors. However, what if one of the resistors continues on parallel. How, then would u find the volts of the solo one in series.

Also, what part does an open circuit play in a parallel circuit. In other words, if the first two resistors connected parallel are closed, but the third is open, what is the result?

 

[Integral]

I believe that you are asking about a series parallel circuit. These consist of both series and parallel elements. The general scheme is to simplify the circuit by computing the resistance contribution of each simpler portion. When elements are connected in parallel you can compute a single resistance, which will be in series with other elements.

The exact steps needed to simplify a circuit are determined by the circuit so it is difficult to specify a sequence. Start by combining all obvious sections, a pair of resistors in parallel, a leg of series resistors. Once the obvious simplifications are made, redraw the circuit with the simplified representations. Repeat. Repeat the process until you arrive at a single total resistance.

Once you have reduced a parallel set to a single resistance its voltage drop can be computed as if it were a single series resistor.

The result of the single open resistor in a 3 resistor parallel network would be that you have 2 resistor in parallel, the 3rd would not be in the circuit.

 

[Graeme Robinson]

In a series circuit, the voltage adds up because the same current flows through each component. This means that in your scenario, the voltage across the two resistors in series would be the sum of the individual voltages across each resistor.

For the resistor in parallel, the voltage would still be the same as the supply voltage. This is because in a parallel circuit, the voltage is the same across each branch, regardless of the resistance.

An open circuit in a parallel circuit would result in that particular branch being disconnected from the circuit. This means that no current would flow through that branch, and the voltage across it would be zero. However, the other branches in the parallel circuit would still have the same voltage as the supply voltage, as long as they are closed and connected to the circuit.

In summary, the voltage across the resistors in series would be the sum of their individual voltages, while the voltage across the resistor in parallel would be the same as the supply voltage. An open circuit in a parallel circuit would result in no current flowing through that branch, and the voltage across it would be zero.