Cells in Series and Parallel
Cells can be connected together in two basic manners:
1. Series connection
2. Parallel connection
The maximum voltage obtained between pairs of electrodes has
been around 2 volts. We all know there are 6 volt, 9 volt, 12 volt and 24
volt batteries (even higher voltages as well). How are these higher
voltages obtained?
Short Circuits Reviewed
As mentioned previously electrons get pushed off the anode and
into the circuit by the repulsion from other electrons gathered on the
anode due to chemical reactions in the battery. This push is what is
known as voltage and this voltage must get used up before the electron
returns from the circuit to the battery at the positive electrode
(cathode). As outlined previously, if the electron’s push is not used up,
it pushes its way into the battery and accelerates the reaction in the
battery, resulting in a short circuit.
Series circuits give electrons two or more pushes by allowing an
electron, pushed out of a cell, to pass directly into another cell where
it gets another push. This way, voltages higher than 2 volts can be
obtained.
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2 Cells in Series: an electron gets a push into the circuit from the
cell directly into another cell where it gets another push
Cells Connected in Parallel
A cell connected in parallel with another cell pushes its electrons
out in the same fashion as it did when connected alone in a simple
circuit except it does not push as many electrons out in the same
period of time.
Each battery pushes its electrons with 9
volts of push so the current remains as it
was with 1 battery but it is now shared
between 2 batteries. This light burns 2
times longer than a single battery circuit
as a result.