Two or more resistors can be combined in series or parallel. The combined pair of resistors has a total resistance that is different from the individual resistor values. This is a consequence of Kirchoff's voltage and current rules and the definition of resistance. Combining resistors can be very useful when trying to make a resistor of a certain value from standard (E24) value resistors. It is also useful to combine resistors to a achieve a higher overall power rating. For resistors in series, the total resistance is always greater than the largest of the individual resistors. For resistors in parallel, the total resistance is always less than the smallest individual resistor value.
Reading: Read the introduction and the first two sections about series resistors and parallel resistors. Make a note of the general principles and the different equations that can be used.
Video (6 min): Watch the video that demonstrates how two resistors combine in series or parallel using actual resistors and a resistance meter.
Video (4 min): Watch an interactive white board video looking in more detail at parallel resistors and networks containing more than two resistors. Add to your notes about series and parallel resistor calculations.
Reading: Read the next section of the web page about combining resistors and why this might be necessary. Add to your notes to include details of making non-standard resistors and increasing power handling.
Video (8 min): The interactive white board vide shows how to derive the equations for series and parallel resistors from Kirchoff's laws. Learn the derivations to develop a better understanding of the underlying theory.
Reading: Study the five examples.
Exercises: Complete the problems to check your understanding.
Review your learning by working through the presentations or notes which summarise the website content.
Presentation: Powerpoint download. A powerpoint presentation that considers numerous examples of combining resistors in series and parallel. The examples are different from those on the website.
Notes: PDF download. The website presented in note form as a PDF document.
Complete either the questions (pdf download) OR the on-line quiz. They are the same questions.
Questions: PDF download. Questions anbout series and parallel resistors.
Quiz: Online quiz about calculating series and parallel resistor combinations.
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© Paul Nicholls
October 2020
Electronics Resources by Paul Nicholls is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
