In a simple series circuit, which parameter remains the same through every component?

In a simple series circuit, which parameter remains the same through every component?

• A. Current
• B. Voltage
• C. Power
• D. Resistance

Answer: (A)

In a simple series circuit, charge has only one path to follow, so the same amount of current flows through every component. This means the current entering a component must equal the current leaving it, and there’s no branching to change the current along the way. Voltage, on the other hand, is split among the components. With a constant current, each component drops a voltage proportional to its resistance (V = I × R). Therefore components with larger resistance take a bigger share of the supply voltage, and the sum of all voltage drops equals the total supply voltage. Resistance is not the same through every component either; each component has its own fixed resistance. The current stays the same, but the voltage drops and power on each component vary according to that component’s resistance. So the parameter that remains the same through every component in a simple series circuit is the current.

In a simple series circuit, charge has only one path to follow, so the same amount of current flows through every component. This means the current entering a component must equal the current leaving it, and there’s no branching to change the current along the way.

Voltage, on the other hand, is split among the components. With a constant current, each component drops a voltage proportional to its resistance (V = I × R). Therefore components with larger resistance take a bigger share of the supply voltage, and the sum of all voltage drops equals the total supply voltage.

Resistance is not the same through every component either; each component has its own fixed resistance. The current stays the same, but the voltage drops and power on each component vary according to that component’s resistance.

So the parameter that remains the same through every component in a simple series circuit is the current.