How Do Series and Parallel Resistor Configurations Affect Current Flow?

  • Thread starter Thread starter twotaileddemon
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Circuits
AI Thread Summary
In the discussion, a student explores how series and parallel resistor configurations affect current flow using a 12 V battery and four resistors. The student determines that connecting resistors in series results in the smallest current (0.075 A), while connecting them in parallel yields the largest current (2.32 A). The student seeks confirmation on the assumption that parallel combinations create larger currents and series combinations create smaller currents. A suggestion is made to calculate the equivalent resistance for both configurations to further understand the relationship between resistance and current. The student plans to experiment with different configurations to validate their assumptions.
twotaileddemon
Messages
258
Reaction score
0
A student is provided with a 12 V battery of negligible internal resistance and four resistors with the following resistances: 100 ohms, 30 ohms, 20 ohms, and 10 ohms. The student also has plenty of wire of negligble resistance available to make connections as desired.

Draw a circuit diagram in which each resistor has a nonzero current flowing through it, but which the current from the battery is as small as possible. Then, draw one in which the current from the battery is as large as possible without short circuiting the battery.

For the first one, the one with that would produce the smallest current, I drew all the resistors in series because current remains constant, I=V/R=12/(100+30+20+10)=.075 A, and that was the smallest I could find...

For the second, the one that would produce the largest current overall. I drew all the resistors in parallel, found the total R to be 5.17 (I know this is right) and then each current on each resistor to be .12 A, .4 A, .6 A, and 1.2A (I know these are right as well), making the overall current 2.32 A.

My question is this: Am I correct in assuming that parallel combinations create the largest current while series combinations create the smallest current? I don't need to be told how to do it, just a simple yes or no would be helpful really. No math involved, as I'm sure my numbers are right.

Thank you for your time and reading this. I appreciate it immensely.:smile:
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Well I won't give you a yes or no. Rather, can you find the equivalent resistance for each configuration (series and parallel)? If you put the equivalent resistance in series with source voltage, what do you notice about the current through the resistor? What can you conclude from this? You can even do more examples to convince yourself. Just choose random resistance and source voltage, then see how they stack up in series and parallel.
 
Last edited:
Okay, so I'll just play around with different ways of putting the resistors in order and I'll see if my assumtion is logical or not.. thank you very much :D
 
Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Starting with the mass considerations #m(t)# is mass of water #M_{c}# mass of container and #M(t)# mass of total system $$M(t) = M_{C} + m(t)$$ $$\Rightarrow \frac{dM(t)}{dt} = \frac{dm(t)}{dt}$$ $$P_i = Mv + u \, dm$$ $$P_f = (M + dm)(v + dv)$$ $$\Delta P = M \, dv + (v - u) \, dm$$ $$F = \frac{dP}{dt} = M \frac{dv}{dt} + (v - u) \frac{dm}{dt}$$ $$F = u \frac{dm}{dt} = \rho A u^2$$ from conservation of momentum , the cannon recoils with the same force which it applies. $$\quad \frac{dm}{dt}...
View full post »

Similar threads

Finding parallel or in-series resistors
Replies
3
Views
706
Why do the headlights on the car become dim when the car is starting?
Replies
4
Views
2K
Finding the Current Through a Resistor (Working With Parallel and Series)
Replies
3
Views
2K
Why Do Capacitors Behave Differently in Series and Parallel Configurations?
Replies
20
Views
2K
Current through a circuit when the key is open
Replies
42
Views
5K
Ohm's Law - Finding Source Voltage
Replies
3
Views
1K
Electrical Circuits - Parallel vs. Series
Replies
14
Views
1K
Current Dividing in an Electrical Circuit
Replies
5
Views
1K
How to determine if electrical components are connected in parallel or in series?
Replies
10
Views
949
Parallel circuit with internal resistance
Replies
6
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top