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Electricity notes -(3)Series and Parallel

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10 views

Electricity notes -(3)Series and Parallel

Uploaded by

aavaniragesh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Series combination of resistors

Two or more resistors are said to be


connected in series if they are connected
one after the other such that the same
current flows in one path through all the
resistors when some potential difference is
applied across the combination.

Derivation of effective resistance

Consider three resistors of resistance R1, R2, and R3 respectively connected in series. Let
‘I’ be the current flowing through each resistor and ‘V’ be the potential difference across
the series combination. If V1, V2 and V3 be the potential differences across the resistors R1,
R2 and R3 respectively, then

V=V1 + V2 + V3 …………………. (1)

By Ohm’s law, V = IR ……. (2)

Since the current flowing through all the resistors is same

V1 = IR1 ……………… (3)


V2= IR2 ……………... (4)
V3= IR3 …………......(5)
Substituting 2, 3, 4, and 5 in (1),

Therefore Eqn. (1) becomes IR=IR1 +IR2 +IR3

IR= I (R1 + R2 + R3)

If Rs be the effective or equivalent resistance of the series combination, then

Rs= R1 + R2 + R3

Hence when a number of resistances are connected in series, the total resistance is equal
to the sum of the individual resistances and is greater than the value of the greatest
individual resistance.
Q: Why is series arrangement not used for domestic circuits?

Ans: The series arrangement is not used in domestic circuits because of the following
disadvantages:

1. If one appliance is switched off or gets fused, then all other appliances will also
stop working because their electrical supply will be cut off due to breaking of the
whole circuit.
2. All the electrical appliances have only one switch so they cannot be operated
independently.
3. The voltage is shared by all the electrical appliances
4. The magnitude of resistance is maximum due to which very small amount of
current flows from the power supply line
5. The same current flows throughout a series circuit, due to which appliances like air
conditioners, water heaters cannot draw sufficient high current.

Numerical

1. Draw a circuit diagram consisting of a battery of four cells each of 2V, a 2 ohm
resistor, 4 ohm resistor and 6 ohm resistor, a plug key and an ammeter all
connected in series. Also connect a voltmeter across 6 ohm resistor. Find the
current flowing in the circuit and the p.d across 6 ohm resistor.

2. An electric bulb of resistance 20Ω and a resistance wire of 4Ω are connected in


series with a 6V battery. Draw the circuit diagram and calculate:
i. total resistance of the circuit
ii. current through the circuit
iii. p.d across the electric bulb
iv. p.d across the resistance wire.
Parallel combination of resistors

Two or more resistors are said to be connected in parallel if one end of a resistor is
connected to one end of the other resistor and the second end of the first resistor is
connected to the second end of the other resistor such that the p.d across each resistor is
the same.

Derivation of effective resistance

Consider three resistors of resistance R1, R2 and R3


respectively connected in parallel

Let V be the p.d across each resistor. Let the currents


I1, I2 and I3 flow through the resistors R1, R2 and R3
respectively.

Therefore I= I1 + I2 + I3 ………………………… (1)

Since the p.d between the two ends A and B is V, therefore by Ohm’s law, V= IR

𝑉
∴I= ……… (2)
𝑅
𝑉
Current in R1 is I1 = ……… (3)
𝑅1

𝑉
Current in R2 is I2 = ……… (4)
𝑅2

𝑉
Current in R3 is I3 = ……… (5)
𝑅3

Substituting 2, 3, 4, and 5 in (1),

Therefore Eqn. (1) becomes

𝑉 𝑉 𝑉 𝑉
=𝑅 +𝑅 +𝑅
𝑅 1 2 3
If the equivalent resistance of the combination between the points A and B is Rp, then,

𝑉 1 1 1
=V + +𝑅
𝑅𝑝 𝑅1 𝑅2 3

1 1 1 1
= + +𝑅
𝑅𝑝 𝑅1 𝑅2 3

Hence when a number of resistances are connected in parallel, the reciprocal of the
equivalent resistance is equal to the sum of the reciprocals of the individual resistors and
is lower than the least value of the individual resistance.

Q. What are the advantages of connecting electrical devices in parallel with the battery
instead of connecting them in series?

1. If one appliance is switched off or gets fused, then all other appliances will keep
working normally.
2. Each electrical appliance has independent switch so it can be operated
independently.
3. Each electrical appliance gets the same voltage, so all the electrical appliances work
properly.
4. The magnitude of resistance is reduced due to which the current from the power
supply line is high.
5. Each electrical appliance can draw the required amount of current needed for their
proper functioning.

Numerical

1. Three resistors are connected in parallel such that their total resistance is 3Ω. If
the resistance of two resistors is 10Ω and 30Ω respectively, find the resistance of
the third resistor.
2. A resistor of 8Ω is connected in parallel with another resistor X. The resultant
resistance of the combination is 4.8Ω. What is the value of the resistor X?

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