Cells in Series and Parallel
-dry cells can be connected together as a
battery using two basic kinds of circuits:
1. series circuit
2. parallel circuit
-the voltage of a dry cell depends on the
two materials used for electrodes
(difference in tendencies to lose and gain
electrons)
-the best matched electrodes known
provide a maximum voltage of just under
2 volts
Cells in Series
-when two dry cells are connected in series,
each electron gets two boosts of energy
instead of just one
-cells can be added indefinitely to increase
the voltage of the battery
Cells in Parallel
-when two cells are connected in parallel the
voltage remains the same as that of a single
cell
-the load will operate for twice as long
Connecting Cells in Series
Number of Cells
Voltage
Predicted Actual
1
2
3
Connecting Cells in Parallel
Number of Cells
Voltage
Predicted Actual
1
2
3