INTRODUCTION

To become familiar with the characteristics of a series circuit

and how to solve for the voltage, current, and power to each
of the elements
To develop an understanding of Kirchhoffs voltage law and
how important it is to the analysis of electric circuits
To become aware of how an applied voltage will divide
among series components and how to properly apply the
voltage divider rule
To understand the use of single and double subscript notation
to define the voltage levels of a network
Text book used: Boylestad, Chapter 5

4. Series DC Circuits

SERIES RESISTORS

Every fixed resistor has only two terminals to connect in a

configuration it is a two-terminal device
Above shows a series connection, where there is one and
only one connection between adjoining resistors
The total resistance of a series configuration is the sum of the
resistance levels
RT = R1 + R2 + R3 + + RN
The more resistors we add in series, the greater the resistance
The largest resistor in a series combination will have the
most impact on the total resistance
The total resistance of resistors in series is unaffected by the
order in which they are connected
If three elements were connected at the same point, as shown
below, there would not be a series connection between R1
and R2

4. Series DC Circuits

SERIES RESISTORS:
INSTRUMENTATION

The total resistance of any configuration can be measured by

simply connecting an ohmmeter across the access terminals
Since there is no polarity associated with resistance, either
lead can be connected to point a and b
Make sure an appropriate scale has been selected, unless the
meter being used is autoranging

4. Series DC Circuits

SERIES CIRCUITS (1)

Above shows a schematic representation for a dc series

circuit
A circuit is any combination of elements that will result in a
continuous flow of charge, or current, through the
configuration
The direction of conventional current in a series dc circuit is
such that it leaves the positive terminal of the supply and
returns to the negative terminal
The current is the same at every point in a series circuit
Source current given by: IS = E/RT = 8.4/140 = 60mA
The dc supply sees the total resistance of the series
connected resistors, not as individual connection of elements

4. Series DC Circuits

SERIES CIRCUITS (2)

Once the current level in a series circuit has been

calculated/measured, the voltage across each resistor can be
determined
The polarity of the voltage across a resistor is determined by
the direction of the current
Current entering a resistor creates a voltage drop with the
polarity as shown below

The polarity of the voltage drop across a resistor is

determined by the current direction
The magnitude of the voltage drop across each resistor can
be found by applying Ohms law using only the resistance of
each resistor
V 1 = IS R 1
V 2 = IS R 2
V 3 = IS R 3
Thus V1 = (60mA)(10) = 0.6V
V2 = (60mA)(30) = 1.8V
V3 = (60mA)(100) = 6.0V

4. Series DC Circuits

SERIES CIRCUITS: EXAMPLE

For the series circuit shown below:

Find the total resistance RT
Determine the source current IS
Find the voltage across resistor R2 and indicate its polarity on
the circuit

4. Series DC Circuits

SERIES CIRCUITS:
INSTRUMENTATION

The insertion of any meter in a circuit will affect the circuit

(loading effects)
The voltages of a circuit can be measured without disturbing
(breaking the connections) the circuit

Using an ammeter to measure the current of a circuit requires

that the circuit be broken at some point and the meter
inserted in series with the branch in which the current is to be
determined

4. Series DC Circuits

POWER DISTRIBUTION IN A
SERIES CIRCUIT

In any electrical system, the power applied will equal the

power dissipated or absorbed
For any series circuit, the power applied by the dc supply
must equal that dissipated by the resistive elements
PE = P1 + P2 + P3 = EIS
Power dissipated by R1: P1 = V1I1 = I12R1 = V12 / R1
In a series configuration, the maximum power is delivered to
the largest resistor

4. Series DC Circuits

POWER DISTRIBUTION IN A
SERIES CIRCUIT: EXAMPLE

For the series circuit above:

Determine RT
Calculate IS
Determine the voltage across each resistor
Find the power supplied by the battery
Determine the power dissipated by each resistor
Comment on whether the total power supplied equals the
total power dissipated

4. Series DC Circuits

VOLTAGE SOURCES IN SERIES

Voltage sources can be connected in series to increase or

decrease the total voltage applied to a system
The net voltage is determined by summing the sources with
the same polarity and subtracting the sources with the
opposite polarity
The net polarity is the polarity of the larger sum
On the left, the net voltage is simply the sum of all the
voltage sources, 18V, which provides conventional current in
the clockwise direction
On the right, the 4V voltage source opposes the 9V and 3V
voltage sources
So the net voltage is the largest summation of voltages in one
direction (12V) minus the smallest summation in the
opposite direction (4V), giving 8V with the polarity and
conventional current direction as shown

4. Series DC Circuits

10

KIRCHHOFFS VOLTAGE LAW

The path abcda is a closed

path, or closed loop
Thus KVL states that the
algebraic sum of the
potential rises and drops
around a closed path
(or closed loop) is zero
V = 0
To determine potential rises and drops, draw a clockwise
loop as shown above
R1 has the + sign on its left, because it is on the positive side
of the voltage source, same for R2
When the loop passes an element from negative to positive, it
is a voltage rise
When the loop passes an element from positive to negative, it
is a voltage drop
In the above circuit, + E V1 V2 = 0
Or E = V1 + V2
The applied voltage of a series dc circuit will equal the sum
of the voltage drops of the circuit
Vrises = Vdrops
The sum of the voltage rises around a closed path will always
equal the sum of the voltage drops

4. Series DC Circuits

11

KIRCHHOFFS VOLTAGE LAW:

EXAMPLES

Example 1: Use KVL to

determine the unknown
voltage.

Example 2: Determine
the unknown voltage.

Example 3: Determine
V2 using KVL.
Determine I2.
Find R1 and R3.

4. Series DC Circuits

12

VOLTAGE DIVISION IN A SERIES

CIRCUIT

The voltage across series resistive elements will divide as the

magnitude of the resistance levels
In a series resistive circuit, the larger the resistance, the more
of the applied voltage it will capture (i.e. the larger the
voltage drop across it)
The ratio of the voltages across series resistors will be the
same as the ratio of their resistance levels
The largest resistor of 6
captures most of the applied
voltage
R3 has the smallest voltage
drop
R1 is 6 times the size of R3
Thus the voltage across R1
is 6 times of that across R3
R2 is three times that of R3
Thus the voltage drop across R2 is three times of that across
R3

4. Series DC Circuits

13

VOLTAGE DIVIDER RULE

The voltage divider rule permits

the determination of the voltage
across a series resistor without
first having to determine the
current
Derivation of the rule:
RT = R1 + R2
Since current is the same
throughout a series circuit
IS = I1 = I2 = E/RT
KVL: E = V1 + V2
Applying Ohms law: V1 = I1R1 = (E/RT)R1
V2 = I2R2 = (E/RT)R2
Thus V1 = ER1/(R1 + R2)
And V2 = ER2/(R1 + R2)
General rule: Vx = Rx (E/RT)
Verbally: The voltage across a resistor in a series circuit is
equal to the value of that resistor times the total applied
voltage divided by the total resistance of the series
configuration

4. Series DC Circuits

14

VOLTAGE DIVIDER RULE:

EXAMPLES

Example 1: Without making any calculations, how much

larger would you expect the voltage across R2 to be
compared to that across R1?
Find V1 using the voltage divider rule.
Determine the voltage across R2 (no calculations!).
Use the voltage divider rule to find V2.
How does V1 + V2 compare to E?
Example 2: Using the voltage
divider rule, determine
voltages V1 and V3.

4. Series DC Circuits

15

NOTATION

Voltage sources and ground: three ways to sketch the same

series dc circuit

The double subscript notation Vab specifies point a as the

higher potential. If this is not the case, a negative sign must
be associated with the magnitude of Vab
Vab is the voltage at a wrt b

Va specifies the voltage at a wrt to ground (zero volts)

Va = 10V, Vb = 4V
Vab = Va - Vb

4. Series DC Circuits

16

NOTATION: EXAMPLE

Determine Vab, Vcb and Vc

4. Series DC Circuits

17

INTERNAL RESISTANCE OF
VOLTAGE SOURCES

The size of resistive loads has an effect on voltages provided

by sources
Thus a network should always be connected to a supply
before the level of supply voltage is set
This is because every practical supply has an internal
resistance in series with the idealised voltage source
Above shows the effect of the internal resistance and
changing the load resistance
In (a), the ideal internal supply must be set to 20.1V if 20V
are to appear across RL
This is due to the internal resistance of the supply
This internal resistance has a 0.1V voltage drop
IL = E / (Rint + RL) = VL / RL
Check circuits (b) and (c) for yourself
As the current drawn from the supply increases, due to
decreasing loads, the terminal voltage decreases

4. Series DC Circuits

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