I am doing a scientific research on circuits, in this case I decided to ask the question: How does the association of the electrical circuit (series or parallel) influence the intensity of the connected lights, for this I will make two circuits, in both 2 lights, both circuits with equal quantities, the difference is that one will be in series and the other in parallel.
In your experiment, comparing a series and a parallel circuit with two light bulbs will help you understand how the circuit type affects the brightness of the bulbs, which is directly related to the current and voltage that each bulb receives.
1. Series Circuit:
In a series circuit, the two light bulbs are connected end-to-end, so the same current flows through both bulbs. However, the voltage from the power source is divided between the two bulbs. The total voltage across the series circuit is the sum of the voltages across each bulb.
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Current: The current is the same throughout the entire circuit. If the current is (I), it flows through both bulbs equally.
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Voltage: The total voltage across the circuit is divided between the two bulbs. If the power supply gives a total voltage (V), each bulb gets a fraction of this voltage depending on their resistance (Ohm’s law: ( V = IR )).
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Brightness: Since the voltage is divided, each bulb will get less voltage than if it were the only bulb in the circuit. With less voltage, the current through each bulb decreases, and thus the bulbs will be dimmer compared to when they are connected in parallel.
2. Parallel Circuit:
In a parallel circuit, each light bulb is connected directly to the power supply, meaning each bulb gets the full voltage of the power source. The current splits between the bulbs based on their resistance, but each one receives the full voltage.
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Current: The current is split between the two bulbs. If the resistance of the bulbs is equal, the current is divided equally. However, if one bulb has more resistance, it will draw less current than the other.
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Voltage: Each bulb receives the same voltage as the power supply, because they are connected across the same two points of the circuit. This is in contrast to the series circuit, where the voltage is divided.
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Brightness: Since each bulb gets the full voltage from the power supply, the bulbs in a parallel circuit will be brighter than in a series circuit, assuming the bulbs are identical. The brightness of each bulb is directly related to the voltage across it, and in a parallel circuit, each bulb gets the full voltage of the source.
Comparison of the Two Circuits:
| Circuit Type | Current Through Each Bulb | Voltage Across Each Bulb | Brightness of Bulbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series | Same current through both bulbs | Voltage divided between bulbs | Dimmer (due to lower voltage per bulb) |
| Parallel | Current is split between bulbs | Same voltage across each bulb | Brighter (due to full voltage per bulb) |
Why the Difference in Brightness?
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Series: In a series circuit, each light bulb shares the total voltage. If the total voltage of the source is 12V, and you have two identical bulbs, each bulb might receive only 6V, leading to reduced brightness because the bulbs aren’t getting the full voltage they need.
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Parallel: In a parallel circuit, each bulb gets the full voltage from the source (e.g., 12V), so the brightness will be higher because the bulbs are operating at their rated voltage.
If you want to learn, please visit the link Series Vs Parallal Circuit.
Conclusion:
- The parallel circuit will make the bulbs shine brighter because each bulb gets the full voltage.
- The series circuit will make the bulbs shine dimmer because the voltage is divided between them.
This experiment will help you see firsthand how the type of circuit affects the intensity of the light bulbs.
Best of luck 