is electric current shared in a series circuit?
In a series circuit, the electric current is the same at all points in the circuit. To understand why this is the case, let's dive deeper into how electric current flows in a series circuit.
In a series circuit, the components (such as resistors, bulbs, or any other devices) are connected in a single path, one after another. This means that the current has only one path to flow through.
According to Ohm's Law, the current (I) flowing through a circuit is directly proportional to the voltage (V) applied across the circuit and inversely proportional to the total resistance (R) in the circuit. Mathematically, this can be stated as I = V/R.
Since all the components in a series circuit share the same current, it means that the total current flowing from the power source splits up and travels through each component sequentially. As a result, the current is the same at every point in the circuit.
In conclusion, in a series circuit, the electric current is shared among all the components as they are connected in a singular path, resulting in the same current flowing through each component.