Series Circuits
2. How Series Circuits Work (and Sometimes Don't)
In a series circuit, electrical components (like resistors, light bulbs, or LEDs) are connected one after the other, forming a single, unbroken path for the current to flow. The current has no other choice but to pass through each component in sequence. Think of it like a train traveling along a single track; it has to visit each station in order.
A key characteristic of series circuits is that the current is the same throughout the entire circuit. This means that the amount of electricity flowing through each component is identical. However, the voltage (electrical potential difference) is divided among the components. The more components you add in series, the lower the voltage each component receives.
Imagine a string of old-fashioned Christmas lights wired in series. If one bulb burns out, it breaks the entire circuit, and all the lights go out. This is because the current can no longer flow through the broken path. That's a classic, and frustrating, example of a series circuit's main drawback.
Series circuits find application when you need to limit current or voltage. For example, some decorative LED strings are wired in series to operate on a higher voltage, ensuring that each LED receives a small, safe voltage. Another common application is in basic voltage divider circuits, where resistors in series are used to create a desired voltage drop.
