Series Resistor Calculator
Build a circuit, calculate total resistance, and visualize voltage drops automatically.
Circuit Setup
Resistors (Series)
Total Resistance (Rₜ)
0 Ω
Current Flow (I)
0 A
Kirchhoff's Law: Notice how the voltage drops across the resistors in the diagram perfectly add up to your starting power source!
How Series Circuits Work
A "series" circuit means the electrical components are connected end-to-end in a single line. The electricity has only one path to flow through.
- Total Resistance Adds Up: Because the electrons are forced to push through every single resistor one after another, the total resistance is simply the sum of all individual resistors.
R_total = R1 + R2 + R3 + ... - Current Stays the Same: Think of it like water flowing through a single pipe. The rate of flow (Current / Amps) is exactly the same at every point in the circuit.
I = Voltage / R_total - Voltage Drops: As current forces its way through each resistor, it uses up some of its electrical pressure (Voltage). The amount of voltage lost across a specific resistor is called a "Voltage Drop" and can be calculated using Ohm's Law:
V_drop = I × R_individual.