10.7 Cells in Series and Parallel (page 310)

A “dry cell” is another term for a battery.

Dry cells can be put together in two ways to change the energy they give each electron as it travels through the battery and out the negative terminal:

-In a series circuit (so they have more power)

-In a parallel circuit (so their power lasts longer)

10.7 Cells in Series and Parallel

Connecting cells in series increases the electric potential (voltage) produced at the negative terminals of the batteries.

As the electron travels through each battery, it gets an additional boost of energy increasing its voltage.

When an electron leaves the negative terminal of a battery and enters the positive terminal of the next battery it picks up more voltage.

The electron exits the negative terminal of the battery and now has double the voltage .

Cells in a Series

The cells are connected side by side (in parallel) to increase the electric charge.

The electrons flow through only one cell before passing through the load.

The electric potential (voltage) of the electron doesn’t increase like it does in a series circuit.

But…

With two cells there is twice as much electric energy available and the load can operate twice as long before running out of energy.

Cells in Parallel

Series Circuits and Parallel Circuits

Series Circuit: This circuit is wired in one single path.

Ex: Christmas lights: If one bulb burns out, all the lights have to be checked to find the burned out bulb.

Parallel Circuit: The electrons pass through separate circuits called branch circuits.

Because each bulb is connected to its own branch circuit, it does not affect the other bulbs.

Series Circuits

Parallel Circuits