• Why it is important to understand?

Series and parallel networks There are two ways in which

components may be connected together in an electric circuit. One
way is ‘in series’ where components are connected ‘end-to-end’;
another way is ‘in parallel’ where components are connected
‘across each other’. When a circuit is more complicated than two
or three elements, it is very likely to be a network of individual
series and parallel circuits.
 At first glance, these circuits may seem very complicated,
but with a methodical analysis approach the functionality of the
circuit can become obvious. This chapter explains with examples,
series, parallel and series/parallel networks. The relationships
between voltages, currents and resistances for these networks are
considered through calculations.
 From Ohm’s law:
I=V/R

V1 = I1R1,V2 = I2R2,V3 = I3R3 and

V total= Itotal x Rtotal
where R is the total circuit resistance.
Since V total= V1 + V2 + V3
In a series circuit: then IR =IR1+IR2+IR3
Dividing throughout by I gives:
(a) The current I is the same in all parts of Rtotal = R1 + R2 + R3
the circuit and hence the same reading is
found on each of the two ammeters shown.
Itotal= I1 = I2 =I3 Thus for a series circuit, the total resistance
is obtained by adding together the values of
(b) The sum of the voltages V1, V2 and V3 is the separate resistances.
equal to the total applied voltage, V , i.e.
Vtotal = V1 + V2 + V3
 EXAMPLE 1: SOLUTION
Determine (a) the battery voltage V , (b) (a) Battery voltage :
the total resistance of the circuit, and (c) V =V1 + V2 + V3
the values of resistance of resistors R1, =5 + 2 + 6
R2 and R3, given that the p.d.s across =13V
R1, R2 and R3 are 5 V, 2 V and 6 V, (b) Total circuit resistance :
R = V / I = 13V/4 A=3.25 ohms
(c) Resistance R1 = V1/ I1 = 5V /4a =1.25
ohm
Resistance R2 = V2 /I2 = 2V /4a =0.5
ohms
Resistance R3 = V3 /I 3= 6V /4a =1.5
ohms
(Check: R1 + R2 + R3 =1.25 + 0.5 + 1.5 =3.25= R)
 EXAMPLE 2: SOLUTION
Determine the p.d. across resistor R3. If P.d. across R3,
the total resistance of the circuit is 100, V3 =25 − 10− 4=11V
determine the current flowing through Vtotal = V1+V2 + V3
resistor R1. Find also the value of
resistor R2., P3 = 11V(0.25A) = 2.75W
Current I = V / R = 25V /100ohms
=0.25 A,

which is the current flowing in each resistor

Resistance R2 = V2/ I 2= 4V /0.25 A=16
ohms
The voltage distribution for the circuit
shown in Figure 5.5(a) is given by:

The circuit shown in Figure(b) is often referred

to as a potential divider circuit. Such a circuit
can consist of a number of similar elements in A potential divider is the simplest way of
series connected across a voltage source, producing a source of lower e.m.f. from a
voltages being taken from connections source of higher e.m.f., and is the basic
between the elements. Frequently the divider operating mechanism of the potentiometer,
consists of two resistors, as shown in Figure a measuring device for accurately
5.5(b), where
measuring potential differences
EXAMPLE 1: EXAMPLE 2:
Determine the value of voltage V shown in
Figure Two resistors are connected in series across
a 24 V supply and a current of 3 A flows
in the circuit. If one of the resistors has a
resistance of 2, determine (a) the value of
the other resistor, and (b) the p.d. across
the 2 resistor. If the circuit is connected for
50 hours, how much energy is used?
SOLUTION
SOLUTION
(a) Total circuit resistance Energy used = power× time
RT = V/ I = 24 V/ 3 A =8 ohms =V×I×t
Value of unknown resistance, = (24V × 3A) (50 hr)
Rx =8ohms − 2ohms=6 ohms
Rt=R1+Rx = 3600Wh
Rx=Rt-R1 = 3.6 kWhr

(b) P.d. across 2 resistor,

V1 =IR1=3A × 2ohms=6 V
V2 = IRx =3A x 6ohms = 18 V
Figure shows three resistors, R1, R2 and R3,
connected across each other, i.e. in parallel,
across a battery source of V volts.
In a parallel circuit:
(a) The sum of the currents I1, I2 and I3 is equal
to the total circuit current, I, i.e.
Itotal =I1 +I2 +I3
(a) The source p.d., V volts, is the same across
each of the resistors
From Ohm’s law:

This equation must be used when finding the

total resistance R of a parallel circuit. For the
special case of two resistors in parallel.

where R is the total circuit resistance.

Since Itotal =I1 + I2 + I3
then V/ R = V/ R1 + V /R2 + V /R3
Dividing throughout by V gives:
1 1 1
Rtotal= ( + + )^ − 1
�1 �2 �3
EXAMPLE 1: SOLUTION
Determine (a) the reading on the ammeter,
and (b) the value of resistor R2 P.d. across R1 is the same as the supply
voltage V .
Hence supply voltage,
Vt= V1=8 A× 5ohms=40V
(a) Reading on ammeter,
I3 = V/ R3 = 40V /20ohms =2 A
(b) Current flowing through
I2 =11A−8A−2A=1A
Itotal = I1 + I2 +I3

Hence,
R2 = V /I2 = 40 V/ 1A =40 ohms
EXAMPLE 2: SOLUTION
(a) The total circuit resistance R is given by
Two resistors, of resistance 3 and 6, are
connected in parallel across a battery
having a voltage of 12 V. Determine (a)
the total circuit resistance and (b) the
current flowing in the 2 resistor 1 / R = (2 + 1)/ 6 = 3 / 6 ohms
Hence,
R = 6/ 3 = 2 ohms
Alternatively,

(b) Current flowing in the 2 resistor

I = V/R = 12V/2ohms =6 amp
For the circuit shown, the total Similarly,
circuit resistance, RT , is given by :

Summarizing, with reference to circuit

and

It is important to note that current division can

only be applied to two parallel resistors. If
there are more than two parallel resistors,
then current division cannot be determined
using the above formulae.
EXAMPLE 1: SOLUTION
For the series-parallel arrangement shown
in Figure, find (a) the supply current, (b) The equivalent resistance Rx of R2 and R3 in
the current flowing through each resistor parallel is:
and (c) the p.d. across each resistor.

The equivalent resistance RT of R1, Rx and

R4 in series is:
RT = 2.5 + 1.5 + 4 = 8 ohms
Supply current I = V / RT
= 200V / 8ohms
I = 25A
 SOLUTION (c) The equivalent circuit of given is shown below
(b) The current flowing through R1 and R4 p.d. across R1, i.e. V1 =IR1 =(25)(2.5)=62.5 V
is 25 A The current flowing through R2 p.d. across Rx , i.e. Vx =IRx =(25)(1.5)=37.5 V
p.d. across R4, i.e. V4 =IR4 =(25)(4)=100 V
Hence the p.d. across R2 =p.d. across R3 =37.5 V

The current flowing through R3

(a) (Note that the currents flowing through R2 and

R3 must add up to the total current flowing
into the parallel arrangement, i.e. 25 A)
EXAMPLE 2: SOLUTION
For the circuit shown ; calculate (a) the
value of resistor Rx such that the total (a) Power dissipated P =VI watts,
power dissipated in the circuit is 2.5 kW, hence 2500= (250)(I)
and (b) the current flowing in each of the i.e. I = 2500W/ 250V = 10A
four resistors. From Ohm’s law, RT = V / I = 250/ 10 =25,
where RT is the equivalent circuit resistance.
The equivalent resistance of R1 and R2 in
parallel is
R12= (15 × 10) /(15 + 10) = 150 / 25 = 6
ohms
The equivalent resistance of resistors R3 and
Rx in parallel is equal to 25 − 6, i.e. 19.
Rtotal = R12 + R3x
There are three methods whereby Rx can be
determined.
SOLUTION
Method 1 Method 2 Since the equivalent resistance of
The voltage V1 =IR1, where R is 6, R3 and Rx in parallel is 19,
from above,
i.e. V1=(10)(6)=60V 19 = (38Rx)/(38+Rx) i.e. product sum
Hence Hence
V2=250V − 60V=190V 19(38 + Rx ) = 38Rx
190V =p.d. across R3 722 + 19Rx = 38Rx
=p.d. across Rx 722 = 38Rx − 19Rx
I3 = V2 / R3 = 190 /38 =5A. = 19Rx
Thus I4 =5A also, Thus Rx = 722 /19 = 38 ohms
since Itotal =10A
Thus Rx = V2/ I4 = 190/5a
=38 ohms
SOLUTION
Method 3
When two resistors having the same
value are connected in parallel the
equivalent resistance is always half
the value of one of the resistors. Thus,
in this case, since RT =19 and R3
=38, then Rx = 38 could have been
deduced on sight.
 Situations often arise in circuit analysis when the resistors
are neither in parallel nor in series. These are the wye (Y) or tee
(T) network shown in the figure (a) and the delta or pi network
shown in the figure (b). These networks occur by themselves or as
part of a larger network. They are used in three-phase networks,
electrical filters, and matching networks. Our main interest here is
in how to identify them when they occur as part of a network and
how to apply wye-delta transformation in the analysis of that
network.
To obtain the conversion formulas for
Each resistor in the delta network is the sum of
transforming a wye network to an
all possible products of Y resistors taken two at
equivalent delta network.
a time, divided by the opposite Y resistor.
EXAMPLE 1: SOLUTION
Transform the circuit Y to delta

20
Each resistor in the Y network is the product of
the resistors in the two adjacent delta branches,
divided by the sum of the three delta resistors.
EXAMPLE 1: SOLUTION
Transform the circuit from delta to Y
You could go to the following websites to see further explanation of the topic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-Xy2_3tIUE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQYRc9UibKk&pbjreload=101
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLjrS4krO2E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0-nHbGQZqo
The maxim um power transfer theorem
states: ‘The power transferred from a
supply source to a load is at its maximum
when the resistance of the load is equal to
the internal resistance of the source.’

Hence, in Figure, when R =r the power

transferred from the source to the load is a Typical practical applications of the
maximum. maximum power transfer theorem are found
in stereo amplifier design, seeking to
maximize power delivered to speakers, and
in electric vehicle d esig n, seeking to
maximize power delivered to drive a motor
EXAMPLE 1: SOLUTION
A d.c. source has an open-circuit voltage RL =r=1.5
of 30 V and an internal resistance of 1.5.
State the value of load resistance that From Figure, current
gives maximum power dissipation and
determine the value of this power.
I = E r / Rt = 30 V/(1.5+1.5 )=10 A

Power
P = (I^2) RL
=((10)^2)(1.5)
=150 W
W=maximum power dissipated.