What are the key principles governing a series circuit?

A series circuit is governed by specific principles that describe how current, voltage, and resistance behave when components are connected in a single path.

Key principles:

• Single path for current:
  Current flows through only one path, so the same current passes through all components.
• Current remains constant:
  I₁ = I₂ = I₃ = …
  The current is the same at every point in the circuit.
• Voltage divides across components:
  The total voltage is shared among all components:
  V = V₁ + V₂ + V₃ + …
• Total resistance is the sum of individual resistances:
  R = R₁ + R₂ + R₃ + …
• Effect of component failure:
  If one component breaks, the entire circuit stops working because the path is interrupted.

Practical example:
Series circuits are used in devices where the same current is required through all components, though they are less common in household wiring.

In simple terms:
In a series circuit, current is the same everywhere, voltage gets divided, and all components are connected in one continuous path.