GCSE›AQA GCSE Physics›Mind mapsSeries and Parallel CircuitsAQA GCSE Physics: Mind mapStudy pack PDFAlso for this subtopic:Revision notesFlashcardsSubtopic testCover factsThe layoutsSeries: one loop, one path for currentParallel: separate branches, several pathsSeries: one component fails, circuit breaksParallel: other branches keep workingSeries rulesCurrent is the same everywhereCharge is conserved, so current cannot droppd is shared between componentsVtotal=V1+V2+V3V_{total} = V_1 + V_2 + V_3Vtotal=V1+V2+V3Larger resistance takes a larger share of pdParallel rulespd is the same across every branchCurrent splits at junctionsItotal=I1+I2+I3I_{total} = I_1 + I_2 + I_3Itotal=I1+I2+I3Lower-resistance branch carries more currentSeries, parallelcircuit rulesAVΩSeries resistanceRtotal=R1+R2+R3R_{total} = R_1 + R_2 + R_3Rtotal=R1+R2+R35 + 3 + 2 gives 10 ΩTotal is always greater than the largestParallel resistance1Rtotal=1R1+1R2\frac{1}{R_{total}} = \frac{1}{R_1} + \frac{1}{R_2}Rtotal1=R11+R216 Ω and 3 Ω in parallel gives 2 ΩTotal is always less than the smallestExam tipsNever say series current is shared or decreasesParallel voltage is not dividedTake the reciprocal at the end of the parallel sum