A LITTLE LIGHTBULB MOMENT
Physics: electricity, waves and optics
Series circuits share current and add resistance
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One narrow hallway, same people, more doors
The idea behind the cue
In a series circuit, the same current flows through every element because there is only one path. The total resistance is the sum of the individual resistances. Adding more resistors in series increases total resistance and reduces current for a given voltage.
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Short & simple
One narrow hallway, same people, more doors
Acronym
SSR — Sleepy Squirrels Rap.
Story
Five dancers march through one hallway with two squeaky turnstiles. Everyone must pass through both, so the line stays the same, but the whole trip gets harder as more turnstiles appear.
Connect the pieces
- S (Sleepy) → Series: In a series circuit there is only one path, so the same current flows through every element.
- S (Squirrels) → Sum: Resistances add in series, so total resistance increases as more parts are added.
- R (Rap) → Resistance: More total series resistance means less current for a given voltage.
- Sleepy · Series: In a series circuit there is only one path, so the same current flows through every element.
- Squirrels · Sum: Resistances add in series, so total resistance increases as more parts are added.
- Rap · Resistance: More total series resistance means less current for a given voltage.
Know the limits
This is for ideal series circuits; real wires and source internal resistance can matter.
Further reading · OpenStax science textbooks ↗Check your understanding
Two identical resistors are connected in series across a battery. Compared with one resistor alone, the total resistance is:
A. Larger
B. Zero
C. Smaller
D. The same
Reveal explanation
Larger
Series resistances add, so two identical resistors in series have greater total resistance than one alone.