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When resistances are connected in a line so that the current in the circuit has only one route to take the total resistance is the sum of the separate resistances. The resistances are said to be connected in series. In this diagram the total resistance R is given by R = R1 + R2 + R3. |
When resistances are connected
in parallel so that, at a
junction, the current flows along
more than one route, the reciprocal
of the total resistance is the sum
of the reciprocals of the separate
resistances. In this diagram the
total resistance R is given by
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