Hello rabcdred. Welcome to PF !rabcdred said:
Resistors in series are connected end-to-end and have the same current passing through them, while resistors in parallel are connected side-by-side and have the same voltage across them.
To calculate the total resistance of resistors in series, you simply add up the values of each resistor. The formula is Rtotal = R1 + R2 + R3 + ... + Rn.
To calculate the total resistance of resistors in parallel, you use the formula 1/Rtotal = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 + ... + 1/Rn. Then, take the reciprocal of the result to find the total resistance.
In a series circuit, the current flows through each resistor in the same direction. In a parallel circuit, the current splits up and flows through each resistor separately.
In a series circuit, the voltage drop across each resistor is proportional to its resistance. In a parallel circuit, the voltage drop across each resistor is the same as the voltage of the power source.
