Why is series arrangement

After which, they have to understand that arranging the bulbs in a certain arrangement has its advantages and disadvantages. We can see from the diagrams that both Circuit A and Circuit B have 2 batteries and 2 bulbs each. The only difference other than the number of switches is the position of the bulbs in the circuit.

When there are two bulbs in a circuit, they can either be arranged in series or in parallel. When the bulbs in a circuit are arranged in series, there is only one pathway that electricity can flow through.

When bulbs are arranged in parallel, there is more than one pathway in the circuit that electricity can flow through. Therefore, in order to identify the arrangements of bulbs in a circuit correctly, students should identify the number of pathways that electricity is able to flow through in a circuit. In the diagram above, I have traced in red how electricity flows from one end to the other end of the battery for Circuit A.

We can see that there is only one pathway that electricity can flow through the bulbs in Circuit A. Thus, the bulbs in Circuit A are arranged in series. Circuit B. In the two diagrams above, I have traced in green and yellow the two possible pathways that electricity can flow through from one end of the battery to the other.

With these diagrams, it is clear that there is more than one possible pathway that electricity can flow through the bulbs. Thus, the bulbs in Circuit B are arranged in parallel. The bulbs in Circuit A are arranged in series while the bulbs in Circuit B are arranged in parallel.

Now that we have gained a better understanding of what it means to arrange bulbs in series and in parallel, let us discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these two arrangements. There are four points of comparison between the series arrangement and the parallel arrangement of bulbs:. The number of batteries in a circuit determines the amount of electricity flowing through each pathway. Additionally, the brightness of the bulb corresponds to the amount of electricity it receives.

With the above in mind, let us now work out the brightness of the bulbs together. Note: 1 battery represents 1 unit of electricity. In the circuit above, there are two batteries. This means that there are 2 units of electricity flowing through the red pathway. As electricity passes through both Bulbs A and B, the two bulbs share the 2 units of electricity equally. Recall that the number of batteries in a circuit determines the amount of electricity flowing through each pathway.

The bulbs in the series circuit have a brightness of 1 unit, while the bulbs in the parallel circuit have a brightness of 2 units. Therefore, we can see that if all other variables were kept constant, bulbs arranged in parallel are brighter than bulbs arranged in series. Each bulb in the above circuit uses 1 unit of electricity. Therefore, in total, the batteries need to produce 2 units of electricity for the bulbs arranged in series.

Each bulb in the above circuit uses 2 units of electricity. Therefore, in total, the batteries need to produce 4 units of electricity for the bulbs arranged in parallel. Comparing the lifespan of the batteries The batteries in a parallel circuit have to produce more units of electricity than the batteries in a series circuit.

Thus, we can infer that the batteries in a circuit with bulbs arranged in parallel will be used up more quickly and have a shorter lifespan. When switch 1 is open, there is an open circuit. Electricity is unable to flow through both bulbs A and B, preventing these bulbs from lighting up. Depending on which part of the circuit where switches are installed, the bulbs can be controlled independently. Electricity is unable to flow through Bulb C, preventing Bulb C from lighting up.

However, as switch 3 is closed, there is still a closed circuit with Bulb D. Electricity is able to flow through Bulb D, allowing Bulb D to light up. From the above, we can see that the bulbs arranged in parallel can be controlled independently of each other, whereas the bulbs in series will always be switched on or off together.

The filament is the part of the bulb that glows when electricity flows through, causing the bulb to light up. When too much electricity flows through the filament, the filament overheats and melts, resulting in a gap. When bulbs have a melted filament, they have fused. Due to the gap in the filament, electricity is unable to flow through the filaments of fused bulbs, preventing them from lighting up.

How will one fused bulb affect the other bulbs in the circuits? In a series connection, all electrical appliances have only one switch due to which they can not be turned on and off separately.

In a series connection, all the appliances do not get the same voltage as the voltage gets divided in series combination. In a series connection, the equivalent resistance increases too much due to which the amount of current flowing becomes very small. Facebook Whatsapp. Class 10 Chapter 12 Class 10 - Electricity Term 2. CA Maninder Singh is a Chartered Accountant for the past 11 years and a teacher from the past 11 years.

He teaches Science, Accounts and English at Teachoo. Teachoo is free.