Final answer:
Switches, loads, meters, and resistors can be connected in series or parallel, with the choice depending on the circuit design. Series connections share the same current, while parallel connections maintain the same voltage across components. The method of connection affects the total resistance in the circuit.
Step-by-step explanation:
Switches, loads, meters, and resistors can be connected in a series/parallel connection. Other components like transformers, generators, and capacitors can also be connected in series or parallel, depending on the desired outcome in the circuit. Series connections are used when you need the same current flowing through all components, while parallel connections are used when the same voltage is required across all components.
In a series connection, the total resistance is the sum of the individual resistances, and the current is the same through each component. In contrast, in a parallel connection, the voltage across each component is the same, and the total current is the sum of the currents through each component.
The resistance of resistors when combined either in series or parallel depends on their individual values as well as how they are connected. In a series circuit, for instance, the resistances add up whereas in parallel circuits the reciprocal of the total resistance is the sum of the reciprocals of each individual resistance.