why does current slow down in a series than when in a parallel?
It does not SLOW down. The magnitude of the current is lower, say 4 amps from original 8 amps, but that is not slower.
Speed of current is measured in terms of velocity, meter/second, and the magnitude of current is measured in amperes.
In a series circuit, more resistance is offered than in a parallel path. By defintion, resistance is the opposition to current flow.
When electric current flows through a circuit, its behavior depends on the circuit's configuration. In a series circuit, the components are connected one after another, whereas in a parallel circuit, the components are connected by branching paths.
In a series circuit, the same current flows through each component. Thus, the amount of current is shared among all the components. As a result, the total current in a series circuit is limited by the component with the highest resistance or impedance. This means that if one component has a higher resistance, it restricts the flow of current for all other components in the circuit. Hence, the current in a series circuit is reduced compared to when it is in a single component.
On the other hand, in a parallel circuit, each component has its own separate path for current flow. Therefore, the total current in the circuit is the sum of the currents through each individual branch. In a parallel circuit, each component receives the full voltage of the circuit, regardless of the resistance of other components. This allows for a greater flow of current compared to a series circuit, as the individual components do not restrict each other's current.
To calculate the current in a series or parallel circuit, you can use Ohm's Law, which states that current (I) is equal to voltage (V) divided by resistance (R) (I = V/R). In a series circuit, the total resistance (RT) is the sum of the individual resistances, and the current is the same through each component. In a parallel circuit, the total resistance (RT) is determined by the reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocals of individual resistances, and the current divides among the branches according to their individual resistances.
In summary, the current slows down in a series circuit because it has to flow through each component one after another, which can be restricted by higher-resistance components. In a parallel circuit, the current is divided among the branches, allowing for a greater flow overall.