Resistor, In Series and Parallel

What is Resistor-
Resistor is a passive component which opposes the flow of current. its unit
is ohm Ω. symbol is ‘R’. A resistor is a passive two-terminal electrical component
that implements electrical resistance as a circuit element. In electronic circuits,
resistors are used to reduce current flow, adjust signal levels, to divide voltages,
bias active elements, and terminate transmission lines, among other uses.

L
Its formula is R ∝ i.e. L is the length of conductor and A is the area of cross
A
section.

Working principle: Electric resistance

A resistor is a passive component in a circuit which provides resistance to

the flow of current. There are many different types of resistors. These resistors
vary in their construction, power dissipation capacities, and tolerance to various
parameters (such as temperature and light).
Different types of resistor-
Resistors are the most fundamental and commonly used of all the
electronic components, to the point where they are almost taken for granted
but they play a vital role within a circuit.

The types of resistors include: -

1. Carbon Composition Resistor
2. Thermistor
3. Wire Wound Resistor
4. Metal Film Resistor and Carbon Film Resistor
5. Variable Resistor
6. Light Dependent Resistor
1.Carbon Composition Resistor-
A carbon composition resistor (also known as a carbon resistor) is a very
commonly used resistor. These resistors are low cost and easy to construct.
Carbon resistors are mainly made of carbon clay composition covered with a
plastic case. The lead of the resistor is made of tinned copper.

The main advantages of these resistors are that they are readily available,
low cost, and they are very durable. These resistors are also available in a wide
range of values, from as low as 1 Ω to as high as 22 Mega Ω. For these reasons,
carbon composition resistors are often included in many of the main disadvantage
of carbon composition resistors is that best Arduino starter kits, they are very
temperature sensitive. The tolerance range in resistance of carbon composition
resistor is of ± 5 to ± 20 %.

2.Thermistor-
The word thermistor means a thermal resistor. Its resistance value changes with
the change in the temperature.

Most thermistors have a negative temperature coefficient which means its

resistance will fall down when the temperature increases.
 These are normally made of semiconductor materials. A resistance up to a few
megaohms can be obtained from thermistors. They are used to detect the small
temperature changes, when there is a temperature change, however small, there
will be a large change in the value of the resistance.

3.Wire Wound Resistor-

These resistors are easily available for a wide range of ratings. The range of
resistance values varies from 1 Ω to 1 MΩ. The typical tolerance limit of these
resistors varies from 0.01 % to 1 %. They can be used for high power applications
of 5 to 200 W dissipation ratings. The cost of these resistors is much higher than
carbon resistor.

In wire wound resistor a wire of manganin or constantan is wound around

a cylinder of insulating material. The temperature coefficient of resistance of
manganin and constantan is almost zero. So, resistance variation with temperature
of these resistors is negligible. The wounded wire is covered with an insulating
cover such as baked enamel. This cover of insulating heat resistible material
resists the effect of ambient temperature variation. Different sizes and ratings of
wire wound resistors can easily be achieved by using different lengths and
diameters of the wire. is used where a carbon composition resistor cannot meet
the purpose because of its limitations.

The wounded wire is covered with an insulating cover such as baked

enamel. This cover of insulating heat resistible material resists the effect of
ambient temperature variation. Different sizes and ratings of wire wound resistors
can easily be achieved by using different lengths and diameters of the wire.
4.Metal Film Resistor and Carbon Film Resistor-
The resistor is constructed by means of deposition a thin film of a conductive
material such as pure carbon or metal on to an insulating core. The desired value
of resistance of metal film resistor or carbon film resistor can easily be obtained
by either trimming the layer of the thickness or by cutting helical grooves of
suitable pitch along its length.

Metallic contact cap is fitted at both ends of the resistor. The caps are in contact
with the conductive film or helical grooves. The lead wire is welded to the end
caps. Metal Film Resistor or Carbon Film Resistor can be made up to a value of
10,000 MΩ and size of this type of resistor is much smaller than a wire wound
resistor. Because of their constructional features, these resistors are fully non –
inductive.

5.Variable Resistor-
The variable resistor means its resistance value can be adjusted (similar to
a potentiometer). There are a rotating shaft and a wiping contact. Basically, there
is a resistive semicircular bar or coil and by wiping the contact we change the
effective length of the resistive element and hence the resistance gets changed.
One example of such resistors is rheostat.
The variable resistor or rheostat can also be a linear sliding type where the sliding
contact moves on the resistive element linearly for adjustment of the effective
resistance of the resistor.

There are a rotating shaft and a wiping contact. Basically, there is a

resistive semicircular bar or coil and by wiping the contact we change the
effective length of the resistive element and hence the resistance gets changed.
One example of such resistors is rheostat.

The variable resistor or rheostat can also be a linear sliding type where the sliding
contact moves on the resistive element linearly for adjustment of the effective
resistance of the resistor.

6.Light Dependent Resistor-

A Light Dependent Resistor (or LDR) will vary in resistance depending on the
intensity of light falling on it. This is made of cadmium sulfide which contains a
small number of electrons when it is not illuminated.

When a light ray falls on it, electrons get ejected and hence the conductivity of it
increases. Hence, it offers low resistance when light falls on it and offers high
resistance in the dark.
Resistor in series and parallel-
1.Resistors in Series-
Resistors are said to be connected in series when they are daisy chained together
in a single line resulting in a common current flowing through them

Individual resistors can be connected together in either a series connection, a

parallel connection or combinations of both series and parallel, to produce more
complex resistor networks whose equivalent resistance is the mathematical
combination of the individual resistors connected together.

A resistor is not only a fundamental electronic component that can be used to

convert a voltage to a current or a current to a voltage, but by correctly adjusting
its value a different weighting can be placed onto the converted current and/or the
voltage allowing it to be used in voltage reference circuits and applications.

Resistors in series or complicated resistor networks can be replaced by one single

equivalent resistor, REQ or impedance, ZEQ and no matter what the combination
or complexity of the resistor network is, all resistors obey the same basic rules as
defined by Ohm’s Law and Kirchhoff’s Circuit Laws.

Then the amount of current that flows through a set of resistors in series will be
the same at all points in a series resistor network. For example:
Series Resistor Equation-

Rtotal = R1 + R2 + R3 + ….. Rn etc.

Note then that the total or equivalent resistance, RT has the same effect on the
circuit as the original combination of resistors as it is the algebraic sum of the
individual resistances. One important point to remember about resistors in series
networks to check that your maths is correct. The total resistance ( RT ) of any
two or more resistors connected together in series will always be GREATER than
the value of the largest resistor in the chain. In our example above RT = 9kΩ
where as the largest value resistor is only 6kΩ.

Applications of Resistors in Series-

We have seen that Resistors in Series can be used to produce different

voltages across themselves and this type of resistor network is very useful for
producing a voltage divider network. If we replace one of the resistors in the
voltage divider circuit above with a Sensor such as a thermistor, light dependant
resistor (LDR) or even a switch, we can convert an analogue quantity being
sensed into a suitable electrical signal which is capable of being measured.

For example, the following thermistor circuit has a resistance of 10KΩ at 25°C
and a resistance of 100Ω at 100°C. Calculate the output voltage (Vout) for both
temperatures.
2.Resistors in Parallel-
Resistors are said to be connected together in parallel when both of their terminals
are respectively connected to each terminal of the other resistor or resistors

Unlike the previous series resistor circuit, in a parallel resistor network the
circuit current can take more than one path as there are multiple paths for the
current. Then parallel circuits are classed as current dividers.

Since there are multiple paths for the supply current to flow through, the current
may not be the same through all the branches in the parallel network. However,
the voltage drop across all of the resistors in a parallel resistive network IS the
same. Then, Resistors in Parallel have a Common Voltage across them and this
is true for all parallel connected elements.

So we can define a parallel resistive circuit as one where the resistors are
connected to the same two points (or nodes) and is identified by the fact that it
has more than one current path connected to a common voltage source. Then in
our parallel resistor example below the voltage across resistor R1 equals the
voltage across resistor R2 which equals the voltage across R3 and which equals
the supply voltage. Therefore, for a parallel resistor network this is given.
Parallel Resistor Equation-

Then the inverse of the equivalent resistance of two or more resistors connected
in parallel is the algebraic sum of the inverses of the individual resistances.

If the two resistances or impedances in parallel are equal and of the same value,
then the total or equivalent resistance, RT is equal to half the value of one resistor.
That is equal to R/2 and for three equal resistors in parallel, R/3, etc.

Applications of Resistors in Parallel-

In the lighting circuit all the lamps are connected in parallel.

A lighting circuit, this is open at the left hand side and has three vertical wires.
On each of these is an open switch and a lamp.This means that the lights in each
room can be switched on and off independently.

The power ring circuit is also a parallel circuit. The power ring circuit is also a
parallel circuit. 2 rectangles one inside the other. On three sides plugs connect
the two rectangles. On the fourth side a switch.

In the lighting circuit there is only one path for the current to each lamp but in the
power ring circuit there are two paths for the current to each appliance. Because
there are two paths, the current in the cables of a power ring circuit is less than
those of a usual parallel circuit with only one path.
Conclusion-
In this project we understood information about resistor various types
of resistors through this project we have extended our research on resistors and
their series and parallel connections.
Reference-
 https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z9b2pv4/revision/1
 https://www.electronicshub.org/applications-of-resistors/
 https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/resistor/res_5.html