In a series circuit, the flow of electric current encounters various components such as resistors, capacitors, and inductors, each of which offers some level of resistance to the flow of electrons. As the current passes through these components, the potential or voltage across each component decreases.
To understand why the voltage is not the same in a series circuit, let’s consider a simple analogy. Imagine you are walking along a path with multiple obstacles, like hills and stairs. As you encounter each obstacle, your energy level decreases, making it more difficult to overcome the next one. Similarly, in a series circuit, the current encounters resistance at each component, causing a drop in voltage.
This voltage drop occurs because the components in a series circuit share the same current. According to Ohm’s law, which states that voltage (V) is equal to the current (I) multiplied by the resistance (R), as the current flows through a resistor, for example, it experiences a voltage drop proportional to the resistance of that resistor.
Let’s consider a practical example. Imagine a series circuit with three resistors connected in a row. The current flowing through the circuit is the same at every point, but as it passes through each resistor, the voltage decreases. Suppose the first resistor has a resistance of 10 ohms and the voltage across it is 10 volts. According to Ohm’s law, the current flowing through this resistor would be 1 ampere (I = V/R = 10V/10Ω = 1A).
Now, as the current reaches the second resistor, let’s say it has a resistance of 20 ohms. According to Ohm’s law, the voltage drop across this resistor would be 20 volts (V = I*R = 1A * 20Ω = 20V). Therefore, the voltage across the second resistor is 20 volts lower than the voltage across the first resistor.
Similarly, when the current passes through the third resistor, let’s assume it has a resistance of 30 ohms. The voltage drop across this resistor would be 30 volts (V = I*R = 1A * 30Ω = 30V). Hence, the voltage across the third resistor is 30 volts lower than the voltage across the second resistor.
As we can see from this example, the voltage decreases across each resistor in a series circuit because the current flowing through the circuit remains constant, while the resistance of each component causes a voltage drop. This phenomenon can be explained by the conservation of energy principle, as the energy carried by the electric charges is gradually consumed or transformed as they pass through the resistors.
In a series circuit, the voltage is not the same because the current encounters resistance at each component, causing a voltage drop across each one. This phenomenon can be understood through Ohm’s law, which describes how the voltage across a component is directly proportional to its resistance.