Cambridge IGCSE Physics · Syllabus 0625 · Electricity and Magnetism
Series and parallel circuit rules
What is Series and parallel circuit rules?
The two conservation rules that govern every circuit: charge is conserved, so the current is the same everywhere in a series circuit and the source current in a parallel circuit is larger than any one branch current; energy is conserved, so the supply p.d. is shared between series components while every parallel branch has the same p.d. Combined resistance is R = R1 + R2 + R3 in series, and in parallel it is always less than either resistor alone.
This definition is part of the Electricity and Magnetism chapter in Cambridge IGCSE Physics.