How Do You Calculate Voltage Drop In A Series Circuit

By | July 20, 2022



Have you ever wondered how electricians calculate voltage drop in a series circuit? It's an important part of electrical circuit design, and knowing the basics of these calculations can help ensure that your circuits are working correctly.

The key to understanding voltage drop in a series circuit is to remember that current remains steady throughout the entire loop, while voltage is divided among each element in the circuit. This means that if there is an element with a greater resistance in the circuit, it will cause more voltage to be dropped across it than the other elements.

The formula used to calculate voltage drop in a series circuit is V = IR, where V is the voltage drop, I is the current through the circuit, and R is the total resistance of the circuit. To calculate the voltage drop for a single element in the circuit, you would plug in the value for I and R for that particular element and solve for V.

For example, let's say you have a 12V power supply with three resistors connected in series, each with a resistance of 4 ohms. Using the formula V = IR, the voltage drop across the first resistor would be 12V * (4 ohms/1) = 48V. The voltage drop across the second resistor would be 12V * (4 ohms/2) = 24V, and the voltage drop across the third resistor would be 12V * (4 ohms/3) = 16V.

It's important to note that when calculating voltage drop in a series circuit, the total voltage drop must equal the voltage of the power supply. In this example, the total voltage drop (48V + 24V + 16V) is 88V, which is higher than the 12V of the power supply. This means that our calculations were incorrect and the values for I and R need to be adjusted accordingly.

In addition to the formula V = IR, electricians also use a graph called a voltage-divider curve to determine the voltage drop in a series circuit. This graph shows how the voltage is distributed among all elements in the circuit, making it easier to visualize the values.

Calculating voltage drop in a series circuit may seem complex, but following the V = IR formula and using a voltage-divider curve can help make the process easier. Knowing the basics of series circuit voltage drop calculations can help ensure that your circuits are working properly and safely.


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