How Does Series Voltage Divide Up?

Most recent answer: 08/06/2013

Q:
if we connect a battery of 9v in series with two globes. Each globe has the value of 4.5 Voltae. My question is how does the voltage get splitted up into 4.5 each. When the current passes through first gloe how does it only takes 4.5 and not more or less.
- Hemant (age 19)
victoria Melbourne Australia
A:

Nice question. Think of the current. There's nowhere for the current to go except through both globes. Since the globes are very similar and have the same current going through them, they must end up with about the same voltage. You know that the two voltages must add up to 9V, so there you have it.

Mike W.


(published on 08/06/2013)