
The way you configure electrical components, such as batteries or resistors, in a circuit (series or parallel) affects voltage and current differently.
- Series Configuration:
Voltage: When you connect batteries in series, the total voltage is the sum of the individual voltages of each battery. For example, if you have two 1.5V batteries in series, the total voltage will be 3V.
Current: The current remains the same through all components in a series circuit.
- Parallel Configuration:
Voltage: When you connect batteries in parallel, the voltage remains the same as the voltage of one individual battery. For instance, if you have two 1.5V batteries in parallel, the total voltage will still be 1.5V.
Current: The total current capacity increases because the currents from each battery add up.
So, connecting batteries in series increases the voltage, while connecting them in parallel maintains the same voltage but increases the available current.