Resistors in Series: PhET Simulation
In this Simulation, you will learn the concepts of Resistors in Series. This animated video has been created using PhET simulations. In this video you will know, what we mean by Resistance in Series connection, How to calculate Equivalent Series Resistance and how to calculate current through a resistor and voltage across a resistor in a circuit having resistors connected in series.
Some interesting experiments are also done in this simulation like what happens to current or voltage when the resistance of wire is increased and as a result it does not act as a resistance free conducting wire. Disadvantage of a series circuit has also been covered in this video.Series Resistors
Series resistors is the configuration in which two or more
resistors are connected in series. Meaning, they connect end-to-end in a single
path. In such a configuration the current will pass through one resistor and
continue directly to the next, ensuring that the same current passes through
each resistor of the chain.Equation for total resistance of resistors connected in
series
Characteristics of Resistors in Series
To understand why resistors in series are important, let's
take a step back and break down their key characteristics:1.Same Current Flow through All Resistors
In the series circuit, the same current flows through each
resistor. This is due to the fact that the resistors are located in one path
and there is no other path in which the current flows. When there is an
incoming current of I of the series circuit, the current that goes
through each resistor is equal.2.Voltage Division across Resistors
In a series circuit, the total voltage supplied by the power
source is divided down across each resistor. The voltage drop across each
resistor depends on its resistance value. This makes series circuits useful in voltage divider circuits where specific voltages are required across
different parts of the circuit.3.Cumulative Resistance
As pointed out in the previous section, the total resistance
in a series circuit is essentially the sum of the individual resistances of a
number of resistors; thus, it is more for the series compared to the case of
any single resistor alone.
4.Influence on Power Consumption
The power consumption in a series circuit is determined by
the square of the current and the resistance. The higher the resistance of a
series circuit, the greater the power consumption is. This relationship is
written with the following formula:- I: current in amperes
- R: resistance in ohms
Advantages of Using Resistors in Series
Knowing when and why to use resistors in series is crucial.
Here are some advantages of this configuration:1.Simplified Circuit Design
This is one of the major advantages-the simple design. If
you want to increase the total resistance in a circuit, for instance, it is
easy adding resistors in series.2.Voltage Distribution
Series resistors are used in doing voltage division in
circuits in any application where you wish to divide the voltage between
several components. For example, in a battery-driven gadget, several resistors
connected in series will ensure that the total voltage is divided amongst other
parts of the circuit such that you are safe when using the circuit.3.Current Control
As it happens, because the current is the same everywhere
along a series circuit, the use of series resistors will actually do some of
what we would like the current-limiting resistors to do-simply control the
total amount of current flowing in the circuit. This is very helpful in current-limiting circuits, where we will likely be trying to prevent too
much current from reaching sensitive parts of a circuit or overall device.Limitations of Series Resistors
Although resistors in series have various advantages, they
also have a few disadvantages, which need to be considered when designing a
circuit.1.High Resistance
As the total resistance is the sum of all the individual
resistors, several resistors in series may increase the overall resistance
significantly, and the current flowing through the circuit may not become
sufficient for normal operation.2.Voltage Drop Problems
Because the voltage is divided among the resistors, the
latter resistors in the series might not get enough voltage remaining across
them that can reduce the efficiency of some components in the circuit.3.One Damaged Resistor Brings Down the Whole Circuit
In a series circuit, if one resistor fails, especially if it
breaks or gets damaged, the overall circuit is interrupted. This is so because
the current has no alternate pathway to flow. Therefore, the whole circuit
stops working.
Practical Uses of Resistors in Series
Resistors in series have numerous practical uses in fields
ranging from the simplest applications to very complex ones. Here are some
common uses:1.Voltage Dividers
A voltage divider is a simple series circuit with
resistors. It is very useful in reducing a higher voltage level to a smaller
one, especially when used with sensitive components requiring lower voltage
levels.2.Current Limiting
A Series Resistor Limits current in circuits that power the
LEDs, motors, or other elements sensitive to too-high levels of current. When
added in series to an LED, for example, the current is limited and thus the LED
won't burn out.3.Resistive Loads in Power Supply Testing
In most power supply testing, resistors are used in series
to represent different loads. This would ensure that the power supply can work
stably under various load conditions.4.Overcurrent Protection
Series resistors can also be part of circuits for
overcurrent protection. By placing a resistor in series with a component, the
current flowing through the component is limited, hence preventing damage from
excessive current flow.Conclusion
One of the basic electronics concepts is resistors in series, and for any work on circuitry, one just cannot avoid it. From designing a voltage divider to controlling the current or actually just testing power supplies, it can be really useful to know how resistors behave when connected in series, in achieving efficient functional designs. Once you understand series resistance, voltage division, and current flow, you are pretty much set with any electronic project.Read More:
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