Series circuit — Science definition

Defined in 2 courses:

Where it is taught

In use

A series circuit provides just one single path for the current to follow.

Electricity & Simple Circuits

A series circuit offers just one single loop for charge to travel, so the very same current flows through every component in turn.

Circuits & Ohm's Law

Questions using series circuit

Problem 1

In a series circuit, if one bulb burns out…
  1. only that bulb goes out; the others stay lit
  2. all the bulbs go out because the circuit is broken
  3. the other bulbs get brighter
  4. nothing changes
Answer and explanation

all the bulbs go out because the circuit is broken

A series circuit has only one path, so a break anywhere stops current everywhere on that path.

Problem 2

Why does a gap in a simple series circuit stop steady current throughout the loop?
Hints

State what the supplied observations or conditions establish, and separate that from any assumption.

Answer and explanation

The gap breaks the continuous conducting path; charge cannot circulate steadily through that loop.

Problem 3

In a series circuit, if one bulb is removed
  1. the others stay lit
  2. the whole circuit stops
  3. the current doubles
  4. nothing changes
Answer and explanation

the whole circuit stops

A series circuit has one path, so breaking it anywhere stops the current everywhere.

Problem 4

In a series circuit, the current flowing through each resistor is:
  1. the same through all of them
  2. larger in the bigger resistors
  3. smaller in the bigger resistors
  4. zero
Answer and explanation

the same through all of them

A series circuit has one single path, so the identical current flows through every component.

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