How to determine the steps for using Ohm's Law with Series or Parallel Circuits
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Series Circuit
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Does the Circuit have one path for the electrons?
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Is the circuit path branched?
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Parallel Circuit
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Voltage is not the same at each resistor!
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Determine the Voltage;
Look for the Battery!
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Determine the Voltage;
Look for the Battery!
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Voltage Remains the Same EVERYWHERE
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Current Remains the Same EVERYWHERE
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Determine the Total Resistance:
Rt= R1 + R2 + R3 + R4...
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Determine the Total Resistance:
Rt= 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3....
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There is a TOTAL current which equals the sum of each individual current at each resistor.
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Determine the Total Current using Ohm's Law.
This Current is the SAME all over the circuit.
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Determine the Total Current in the circuit using Ohm's Law.
This current is NOT the same at each resistor
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You can find the Voltage through each resistor by using Ohm's Law and the TOTAL Current.
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Determine the current in each branch by using that resistance and the TOTAL Voltage
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