ELEMENTARY ELECTRICAL

ENGINEERING
SERIES AND PARALLEL NETWORKS
Module 6
ELEMENTARY ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Series and Parallel Networks
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson, the learned is expected to:
1. Calculate the unknown voltages, current, and resistances in a series circuit.
2. Calculate the unknown voltages, current, and resistances in a parallel circuit.
3. Describe the advantage and disadvantages of series and parallel connections.

TOPIC PRESENTATION:
This will be the flow of discussion:
1. Discussion on series circuit.
2. Discussion on parallel circuit
3. Presentation of sample problems involving the voltage, current, and resistance in a series and
parallel circuit.
ELEMENTARY ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Series and Parallel Networks

Series Circuit
ELEMENTARY ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Series and Parallel Networks
ELEMENTARY ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Series and Parallel Networks
Sample Problems

1. For the circuit shown, determine (a) the battery voltage V, (b) the total resistance of the
circuit and (c) the values of resistors given that the p.d. across R1, R2, and R3 are 5V, 2V, and
6V respectively

𝑎) 𝐵𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒, 𝑉 = 𝑉1 + 𝑉2 + 𝑉3 = 5 + 2 + 6 = 𝟏𝟑𝑽

𝑉 13
𝑏) 𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑢𝑖𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑅 = = = 𝟑. 𝟐𝟓 𝜴
𝐼 4

𝑉1 5
𝐶) 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑅1 = = = 1.25 Ω
𝐼 4
𝑉2 2
𝑅2 = = = 0.5 Ω
𝐼 4
𝑉3 6
𝑅3 = = = 1.5 Ω
𝐼 4
ELEMENTARY ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Series and Parallel Networks

2. For the circuit shown, determine the potential drop across the resistor R3. If the total
resistance of the circuit is 100 ohms, determine the current flowing through R1. Find
also the value of resistor R2.

𝑝. 𝑑. 𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑅3 , 𝑉3 = 25 − 10 − 4 = 11𝑉

𝑉 25
𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡, 𝐼 = = = 0.25𝐴
𝑅 100
𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑐ℎ 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟

𝑉2 4
𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑅2 = = = 16 Ω
𝐼 0.25
ELEMENTARY ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Series and Parallel Networks
3. A 12V battery is connected in a circuit having three series-connected resistors having
resistances of 4 ohms, 9 ohms, and 11 ohms. Determine the current flowing through,
and the p.d. across the 9-ohm resistor. Find also the power dissipated in the 11-ohm
resistor.
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑅 = 4 + 9 + 11 = 24 𝑜ℎ𝑚𝑠
𝑉 12
𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡, 𝐼 = = = 0.5 𝐴
𝑅 24
𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑐ℎ 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 9 − 𝑜ℎ𝑚 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟

𝑝𝑑 𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 9 − 𝑜ℎ𝑚 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟

𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 11 − 𝑜ℎ𝑚 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟

Parallel Network
ELEMENTARY ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Series and Parallel Networks
ELEMENTARY ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Series and Parallel Networks

4. Given four 1-ohm resistors, state how they must be connected to give an overall
resistance of (a) ¼ ohms (b) 1 ohm (c) 1 1/3 ohms and (d) 2 ½ ohms, all four resistors
being connected in each case.
ELEMENTARY ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Series and Parallel Networks

4. Given four 1-ohm resistors, state how they must be connected to give an overall
resistance of (a) ¼ ohms (b) 1 ohm (c) 1 1/3 ohms and (d) 2 ½ ohms, all four resistors
being connected in each case.
ELEMENTARY ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Series and Parallel Networks

4. Given four 1-ohm resistors, state how they must be connected to give an overall
resistance of (a) ¼ ohms (b) 1 ohm (c) 1 1/3 ohms and (d) 2 ½ ohms, all four resistors
being connected in each case.
ELEMENTARY ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Series and Parallel Networks

4. Given four 1-ohm resistors, state how they must be connected to give an overall
resistance of (a) ¼ ohms (b) 1 ohm (c) 1 1/3 ohms and (d) 2 ½ ohms, all four resistors
being connected in each case.
ELEMENTARY ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Series and Parallel Networks

5. Find the equivalent resistance for the circuit shown

1 1 1 1 10 18
= + + = ;𝑅 = Ω
𝑅 3 6 18 18 10

𝑅𝑇 = 1 + 2.2 + 1.8 + 4 = 9 Ω
ELEMENTARY ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Series and Parallel Networks
6. Calculate the current supplied in each resistor.
ELEMENTARY ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Series and Parallel Networks

Assignment:
1. The pd measured across three resistors connected in series are 5V, 7V, and 10V, and the
supply current is 2A. Determine (a) the supply voltage (b) the total circuit resistance and (c)
the values of the three resistors.

2. For the circuit shown, determine the value of V1. If the total circuit resistance is 36 ohms,
determine the supply current and the value of the resistors R1, R2, and R3
ELEMENTARY ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Series and Parallel Networks
3. Two resistors are connected in series across an 18V supply and a current of 5A flows. If
one of the resistors has a value of 2.4 ohms, determine (a) the value of the other resistor
and (b) p.d. across the 2.4-ohm resistor

4. When the switch in the circuit is closed, the reading on voltmeter 1 is 30V and that on
voltmeter 2 is 10V. Determine the reading on the ammeter and the value of resistor Rx.
ELEMENTARY ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Series and Parallel Networks

5. For the series-parallel arrangement shown, find (a) the supply current (b) the current
flowing through each resistor and (c) the p.d. across each resistor
ELEMENTARY ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Series and Parallel Networks
6. For the circuit shown, calculate (a) the value or Rx such that the total power
dissipated in the circuit is 2.5 kW and (b) the current flowing in each of the four
resistors.
ELEMENTARY ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Series and Parallel Networks

REFERENCES
 John O’ Malley (2011). Schaum’s Outline: Basic Circuit Analysis. McGraw – Hill, 2nd
Edition

 Mahmood Nahvi and Joseph Edminister (2011). Schaum’s Outline: Electric Circuits.
McGraw – Hill, 4th Edition

 Nilsson and Riedel (2010). Electric Circuits. Pearson Prentice Hall, 9th Edition

 John Bird (2010). Electrical Circuit Theory. Taylor & Francis Publication

 Any online references relevant to the topics and subject matters

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