Parallel and Series Connections

Author:Abhishek Chandra
10th CBSE
IMPORTANT

Parallel and Series Connections: Overview

The topic will take you through the basics of parallel and series connections. The electric components can be added either in series—side-by-side or parallel—both arms together, giving different results.

Important Questions on Parallel and Series Connections

HARD
IMPORTANT

Calculate the equivalent resistance between the points A and B in the given figure.

Question Image  

MEDIUM
IMPORTANT

In the circuit given, what will be the readings of voltmeters V1V2 and V3?

Question Image  

MEDIUM
IMPORTANT

You are given a number of 30 Ω resistors. What is the minimum number of these resistors you will need to get a 75 Ω resistor?

HARD
IMPORTANT

In the given circuit, calculate the potential difference across the battery, the current through the resistance R and the value of the resistance R.

Question Image 

HARD
IMPORTANT

The effective resistance when two resistors are connected in series is 90 Ω. If the effective resistance when the same two resistors are connected in parallel is 20 Ω, what are the resistances of the given resistors?

HARD
IMPORTANT

Three identical lamps are connected in parallel with a battery. The total current in the circuit is 12 A. What will be the total current in the circuit when one of the lamps fuses?

MEDIUM
IMPORTANT

What is the smallest and the largest resistance you can produce in a circuit by combining two hundred 2 Ω resistors?

HARD
IMPORTANT

Two metallic wires A and B of same material are connected in parallel. Wire A has length l and radius r and wire B has length 2l and radius 2r. What is the ratio of the total resistance of parallel combination and the resistance of wire A?

MEDIUM
IMPORTANT

Column I give the ways resistors are connected and column II gives their equivalent resistances. Match them.

Column I Column II
(a) 4 Ω and 8 Ω resistors connected in parallel (p) 1 Ω
(b) 6 Ω and 12 Ω resistors connected in parallel and then connected in series with a 8 Ω resistor (q) 2.67 Ω
(c) 5 Ω and 3 Ω resistors connected in series and then connected in parallel to a 4 Ω resistor (r) 12 Ω
(d) Ten 5 Ω resistors in parallel connected in series with sixteen 8 Ω resistors in parallel (s) 0.25 Ω

MEDIUM
IMPORTANT

The equivalent resistance of two resistances, R1 and R2 in parallel is given by undefined. The equivalent resistance of the same two resistances in series is given by undefined.
Consider the given figure. A resistor of undefined is connected to a battery of undefined. An ammeter is connected to measure the current through the resistor and a voltmeter is connected to measure the potential difference across the same resistor. Though ideally, a voltmeter has infinite resistance and an ammeter has zero resistance, they both have finite non-zero resistances in practical situations. The voltmeter and the ammeter in the given situation have resistances of 100 Ω and 1 Ω respectively.

Question Image  

On the basis of the above information, answer the following question: What will be the current flowing through the ammeter?

EASY
IMPORTANT

The equivalent resistance of two resistances, R1 and R2 in parallel is given by undefined. The equivalent resistance of the same two resistances in series is given by undefined.
Consider the given figure. A resistor of undefined is connected to a battery of undefined. An ammeter is connected to measure the current through the resistor and a voltmeter is connected to measure the potential difference across the same resistor. Though ideally, a voltmeter has infinite resistance and an ammeter has zero resistance, they both have finite non-zero resistances in practical situations. The voltmeter and the ammeter in the given situation have resistances of 100 Ω and 1 Ω respectively.

Question Image  

On the basis of the above information, answer the following question: What will be the current flowing through the voltmeter?

MEDIUM
IMPORTANT

The equivalent resistance of two resistances, R1 and R2 in parallel is given by undefined. The equivalent resistance of the same two resistances in series is given by undefined.
Consider the given figure. A resistor of undefined is connected to a battery of undefined. An ammeter is connected to measure the current through the resistor and a voltmeter is connected to measure the potential difference across the same resistor. Though ideally, a voltmeter has infinite resistance and an ammeter has zero resistance, they both have finite non-zero resistances in practical situations. The voltmeter and the ammeter in the given situation have resistances of 100 Ω and 1 Ω respectively.

Question Image  

On the basis of the above information, answer the following question: What will be the current drawn from the battery when the voltmeter and the ammeter are connected?

MEDIUM
IMPORTANT

The equivalent resistance of two resistances, R1 and R2 in parallel is given by undefined. The equivalent resistance of the same two resistances in series is given by undefined.
Consider the given figure. A resistor of undefined is connected to a battery of undefined. An ammeter is connected to measure the current through the resistor and a voltmeter is connected to measure the potential difference across the same resistor. Though ideally, a voltmeter has infinite resistance and an ammeter has zero resistance, they both have finite non-zero resistances in practical situations. The voltmeter and the ammeter in the given situation have resistances of 100 Ω and 1 Ω respectively.
Question Image
On the basis of the above information, answer the following question: What will be the total resistance of the circuit when the voltmeter and the ammeter are connected?

MEDIUM
IMPORTANT

The equivalent resistance of two resistances, R1 and R2 in parallel is given by undefined. The equivalent resistance of the same two resistances in series is given by undefined.
Consider the given figure. A resistor of undefined is connected to a battery of undefined. An ammeter is connected to measure the current through the resistor and a voltmeter is connected to measure the potential difference across the same resistor. Though ideally, a voltmeter has infinite resistance and an ammeter has zero resistance, they both have finite non-zero resistances in practical situations. The voltmeter and the ammeter in the given situation have resistances of 100 Ω and 1 Ω respectively.
Question Image  
On the basis of the above information, answer the following question: What will be the current drawn from the battery when no voltmeter and ammeter are connected?

EASY
IMPORTANT

In a circuit, the potential difference across each resistance in a series combination of a number of resistances is the same as the potential difference across each resistance when the same resistances are connected in parallel.

EASY
IMPORTANT

A parallel combination of three resistors will draw more current from the battery than their series combination.

EASY
IMPORTANT

To secure maximum equivalent resistance using hundred resistors, all the resistors should be connected in parallel.

EASY
IMPORTANT

To secure minimum equivalent resistance using ten resistors, all the resistors should be connected in parallel.

EASY
IMPORTANT

The equivalent resistance of two resistors of 4 Ω each connected in parallel is 8 Ω.

EASY
IMPORTANT

A parallel combination of 50 resistor of R Ω each is connected in series with a battery. If the current drawn from the battery is 2.1 A the current through each resistor will be _____.