Current draw in series?

[Splunk_Au]

So with thte current divider rule, current drops across components connected in series. Does this also apply to batteries?

If there are 2 AA batteries wired in series and the total current draw is 2A, does this mean that the current draw is 1A per battery?

 

[Mugrunty]

Nope, exactly the opposite. If you have two batteries in series, and the total current is 2 Amps, then each battery has to give 2 Amps. If you had two batteries in parallel, then each battery would give 1 Amp. Maybe you're thinking about how power gets split up.

2 x 1.5v batteries @ 2amps = 3v x 2A = 6 watts total. (P=IV)

each battery is giving: 1.5v x 2 amps = 3 watts each. (3 watts x 2 batteries)

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Power would still add up using addition in parallel circuits.(for each battery)

2 x 1.5v batteries in parallel, total current is 2A = 1.5v x 2A = 3 watts total.

each battery is giving 1.5v x 1 amp = 1.5 watts each. (1.5 watts x 2 batteries)

Hope this helps!

 

[Mr Happy]

It's perhaps a little better still to let each battery continue to give 2 A even when in parallel?

Then you would have 1.5 V x 4 A total = 6 W, and 3 W per battery as with the series case.

 

[Norm]

Just think about how a series circuit is wired, there is only one path for the current to take so the current in each part of the circuit must be the same.
Norm

 

[Splunk_Au]

ok thanks!

 

[Mr Happy]

Did we establish that current can sometimes leave the wire and flow through the air?

 

[Norm]

Did we establish that current can sometimes leave the wire and flow through the air?

True if the voltage is above the breakdown resistance of the surrounding air.

 

[Splunk_Au]

LOL! I have a taser for that