In series circuits, which quantity remains the same through all components?

In series circuits, which quantity remains the same through all components?

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

Answer: (A)

Current is the quantity that stays the same through all components in a series circuit. Because there’s a single path for charge, the same amount of current must flow through every element; it can’t split or accumulate along the way. The voltage across each component, however, does not stay the same—it divides among the components according to each one's resistance (V = I·R). The total resistance in a series arrangement is the sum of the individual resistances, so the overall current is set by the source voltage divided by this total (I = V_source / R_total). Power in each component depends on the current and that component’s resistance (P = I^2 R or P = V·I); with the same current, components with larger resistance dissipate more power.

Current is the quantity that stays the same through all components in a series circuit. Because there’s a single path for charge, the same amount of current must flow through every element; it can’t split or accumulate along the way. The voltage across each component, however, does not stay the same—it divides among the components according to each one's resistance (V = I·R). The total resistance in a series arrangement is the sum of the individual resistances, so the overall current is set by the source voltage divided by this total (I = V_source / R_total). Power in each component depends on the current and that component’s resistance (P = I^2 R or P = V·I); with the same current, components with larger resistance dissipate more power.