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AP Physics C
Potential Difference =Voltage=EMF
In a battery, a series of chemical
reactions occur in which
electrons are transferred from
one terminal to another. There is
a potential difference (voltage)
between these poles.
1. A source of energy
2. A closed path
3. A device which uses the energy
If ANY part of the circuit is open the device will not work!
Electricity can be symbolic of Fluids
Circuits are very similar to water flowing through a pipe
V I
Voltage vs. Current
10
R Resistance 7
Voltage(V)
6
V IR 5 Voltage(V)
4
e IR 3
2
1
As the current goes through the circuit, the charges must USE ENERGY to get
through the resistor. So each individual resistor will get its own individual potential
voltage). We call this VOLTAGE DROP.
V( series)Total V1 V2 V3 ; V IR
( I T RT ) series I1 R1 I 2 R2 I 3 R3 Note: They may use the
terms “effective” or
Rseries R1 R2 R3 “equivalent” to mean
TOTAL!
Rs Ri
Example A series circuit is shown to the left.
a) What is the total resistance?
R(series) = 1 + 2 + 3 = 6W
b) What is the total current?
V=IR 12=I(6) I = 2A
Here we see that applying Kirchhoff's Voltage Law to this loop produces
the formula for the effective resistance in a series circuit. The word
effective or equivalent means the same thing as the TOTAL.
Parallel Circuit
In a parallel circuit, we have
multiple loops. So the
current splits up among
the loops with the
It is important to understand that parallel
individual loop currents circuits will all have some position
adding to the total where the current splits and comes back
current together. We call these JUNCTIONS.
1 1 1 1
RP 5 7 9
1 1 2.20 W
0.454 RP
Rp 0.454
b) What is the total current? V IR
8 I ( R ) 3.64 A
c) What is the voltage across EACH resistor?
8 V each!
d) What is the current drop across each resistor?
(Apply Ohm's law to each resistor separately)
V IR Notice that the
8 8 8 individual currents
I 5W 1.6 A I 7 W 1.14 A I 9W 0.90 A ADD to the total.
5 7 9
Kirchhoff ’s Current Law
“The sum of the currents flowing into a junction is equal to the
sum of the currents flowing out.”
Blue Loop V ( I 2 2) ( I 3 6) 0
12 2 I 2 6 I 3 Using Kirchhoff’s Current Law
I1 I 2 I 3
Applying Kirchhoff ’s Laws
24 6 I 3 4 I1
12 2 I 2 6 I 3
I 3 I1 I 2
24 6( I1 I 2 ) 4 I1 6 I1 6 I 2 4 I1 10 I1 6 I 2
12 2 I 2 6( I1 I 2 ) 2 I 2 6 I1 6 I 2 6 I1 8I 2
24 10 I1 6 I 2 6(24 10 I1 6 I 2 )
12 6 I1 8I 2 10(12 6 I1 8I 2 )
144 60 I1 36 I 2 120 60 I1 80 I 2
24 44 I 2 A NEGATIVE current does NOT mean you are wrong. It
means you chose your current to be in the wrong
I2 -0.545 A
direction initially.
Applying Kirchhoff ’s Laws
12 2 I 2 6 I 3 12 2(0.545) 6 I 3
I3 2.18 A
24 6 I 3 4 I1 24 6(?) 4 I1
I1 2.73 A
Instead of : I 3 I1 I 2
1 1 1
; RP 33.3W
RP 100 50
Rs 80 33.3 113.3W
Compound (Complex) Circuits
1 1 1
; RP 33.3W
RP 100 50
Rs 80 33.3 113.3W
Suppose the potential difference (voltage) is equal to 120V. What is the total
current?
VT I T RT
120 I T (113.3)
I T 1.06 A V80W I 80W R80W
V80W (1.06)(80)
What is the VOLTAGE DROP across the 80W resistor?
V80W 84.8 V
Compound (Complex) Circuits
RT 113.3W
VT 120V
I T 1.06 A
V80W 84.8V
I 80W 1.06 A What is the current across the
100W and 50W resistor?
What is the VOLTAGE DROP across I T ( parallel) I 2 I 3
the 100W and 50W resistor?
VT ( parallel) V2 V3
I T ( series) I1 I 2&3