Resistors in Series
When resistors are connected one after each other this is called connecting in series. This is shown below. 
To calculate the total overall resistance of a number of resistors connected in this way you add up the individual resistances. This is done using the following formula: Rtotal = R1 + R2 +R3 and so on. Example: To calculate the total resistance for these three resistors in series.
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*Rtotal = R1 + R2 + R3* *= 100 + 82 + 1 Ohms* *= 183 Ohms * |
Task 1:
Calculate the total resistance of the following resistor in series.
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Rtotal | = _______________ |
| = _______________ |
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Rtotal | = _______________ |
| = _______________ |
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Rtotal | = _______________ |
| = _______________ |
Resistors in Parallel
When resistors are connected across each other (side by side) this is called connecting in parallel. This is shown below. 
Two Resistors in Parallel
| To calculate the total overall resistance of a of two resistors connected in this way you can use the following formula: |  |
Example: To calculate the total resistance for these two resistors in parallel.
Task 2:
Calculate the total resistance of the following resistor in parallel. 
Three or more resistors in parallel
To calculate the total overall resistance of a number of three or more resistors connected in this way you can use the following formula: 
Example: To calculate the total resistance for these three resistors in parallel 
Task 3:
Calculate the total resistance of the following resistor in parallel. 
Answers
Task 1
1 = 1492 Ohms 2 = 2242 Ohms 3 = 4847 Ohms
Task 2
1 = 5 Ohms 2 = 9.57 Ohms 3 = 248.12 Ohms
Task 3
1 = 5.95 Ohms 2 = 23.76 Ohms Download a pdf version of this page here 
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