sarjakytkennät

Sarjakytkennät, in electrical engineering, refers to a configuration where components are connected in a chain, one after another. This means that the same electric current flows through each component in the circuit. If one component in a series circuit breaks or is removed, the entire circuit will cease to function because the path for the current is interrupted.

In a series circuit, the total resistance is the sum of the individual resistances of each component. This is represented by the formula R_total = R_1 + R_2 + R_3 + ... where R_total is the total resistance and R_1, R_2, R_3 are the resistances of individual components. The voltage across each component is proportional to its resistance, according to Ohm's Law (V = IR). Therefore, the total voltage supplied by the source is divided among the components.

Common examples of series circuits include old-fashioned Christmas lights, where if one bulb burns out, the entire string goes dark, and simple switches connected to a single power source. While simple to construct, the reliance on a single path for current makes them vulnerable to failure. In many modern applications, parallel circuits are preferred for their ability to allow components to operate independently.