- #1
Phrak
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Are these resistors in series or parallel?
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/1043/seriesparallel.jpg
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/1043/seriesparallel.jpg
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chroot said:Neither. These two resistors together can be viewed as a three-terminal device. There's no way to combine them into a single resistor via the rules for parallel and series resistors, because that would create a two-terminal device, and it would no longer fit into the circuit.
- Warren
In a series configuration, the resistors are connected one after the other in a single path, while in a parallel configuration, they are connected in multiple branches. This leads to differences in the overall resistance and current flow in the circuit.
Parallel configurations are better for reducing total resistance, as the individual resistors add up to a smaller total resistance compared to a series configuration.
In a series configuration, the same amount of current flows through each resistor, as there is only one path for the current to follow.
In a parallel configuration, the total current is divided between the branches, with each branch receiving a portion of the total current based on the resistance of the individual resistors.
Yes, it is common to have a combination of series and parallel resistor configurations in a circuit. This allows for more control over the overall resistance and current flow in the circuit.