Alternating Current: Circuit and The Circuit That Deals With Alternating Current or AC, Is Generally

DC Circuit
There are two types of electricity – direct current and alternating current, i.e,
DC and AC. The circuit that deals with direct current or DC, is referred as DC
circuit and the circuit that deals with alternating current or AC, is generally
referred as AC Circuit. The components of the electrical DC circuit are mainly
resistive, where as components of the AC circuit may be reactive as well as
resistive.
Any electrical circuit can be categorized into three different groups – series,
parallel and series parallel. So for example, in the case of DC, the circuits can
also be divided into three groups, such as series DC circuit, parallel DC
circuit and series and parallel circuit.
Series DC Circuit
When all the resistive components of a DC circuit are connected end to end to
form a single path for flowing current, then the circuit is referred as series DC
circuit. The manner of connecting components end to end is known as series
connection. Suppose we have n number of resistors R1, R2, R3………… Rn and
they are connected in end to end manner, means they are series connected. If
this series combination is connected across a voltage source, the current starts
flowing through that single path. As the resistors are connected in end to end
manner, the current first enters in to R1, then this same current comes in R2,
then R3 and at last it reaches Rn from which the current enters into the negative
terminals of the voltage source.
In this way, the same current circulates through every resistor connected in
series. Hence, it can be concluded that in a series DC circuit, the same current
flows through all parts of the electrical circuit. Again according to Ohm’s law,
the voltage drop across a resistor is the product of its electrical resistance and
the current flow through it. Here, current through every resistor is the same,
hence the voltage drop across each resistor’s proportional to its electrical
resistance value. If the resistances of the resistors are not equal then the
voltage drop across them would also not be equal. Thus, every resistor has its
individual voltage drop in a series DC circuit.
Electrical DC Series Circuit with Three Resistors
The flow of current is shown here by a moving point. This is just a conceptual
representation.
An Example of Series DC Circuit
Suppose three resistors R1, R2 and R3 are connected in series across a voltage
source of V (quantified as volts) as shown in the figure. Let current I
(quantified as Ampere) flow through the series circuit. Now according to
Ohm’s law,
Voltage drop across resistor R1, V1 = IR1
Voltage drop across whole series DC circuit,
V = Voltage drop across resistor R1 + voltage drop across resistor R2 + voltage
drop across resistor R3
According to Ohm’s law, the electrical resistance of an electrical circuit is
given by V ⁄ I and that is R. Therefore,
So, effective resistance of the series DC circuit is . From the

above expression it can be concluded, that when a number of resistors are
connected in series, the equivalent resistance of the series combination is the
arithmetic sum of their individual resistances.
From the above discussion, the following points come out:
1. When a number of electrical components are connected in series, the
same current flows through all the components of the circuit.
2. The applied voltage across a series circuit is equal to the sum total
of voltage drops across each component.
3. The voltage drop across individual components is directly proportional
to its resistance value.
Parallel DC Circuit
When two or more electrical components are connected in a way that one end
of each component is connected to a common point and the other end is
connected to another common point, then the electrical components are said
to be connected in parallel, and such an electrical DC circuit is referred as a
parallel DC circuit. In this circuit every component will have the same
voltage drop across them, and it will be exactly equal to the voltage which
occurs between the two common points where the components are connected.
Also in a parallel DC circuit, the current has several parallel paths through
these parallel connected components, so the circuit current will be divided
into as many paths as the number of components.
Here, in this electrical circuit, the voltage drop across each component is
equal. Again as per Ohm’s law, voltage drop across any resistive component
is equal to the product of its electrical resistance and current through it. As the
voltage drop across every component connected in parallel is the same, the
current through them is inversely proportional to its resistance value.

Alternating Current: Circuit and The Circuit That Deals With Alternating Current or AC, Is Generally

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Alternating Current: Circuit and The Circuit That Deals With Alternating Current or AC, Is Generally

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Alternating Current: Circuit and The Circuit That Deals With Alternating Current or AC, Is Generally

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

DC Circuit

An Example of Series DC Circuit

So, effective resistance of the series DC circuit is . From the

You might also like