Final answer:
In a series circuit, components that are connected across a voltage source share the same current and the voltages add up across each component. A fault in one component affects the entire circuit. Multiple voltage sources in series add their emfs and internal resistances to provide a total voltage or emf.
Step-by-step explanation:
When two or more components are connected across a voltage source a combination of elements in a circuit is formed. In the context of components connected in series, this combination will affect how voltage is distributed and how the components impact each other. For example, in a series circuit, if one component fails, it would disrupt the current flow through the entire circuit. If a bulb were to burn out in a series of lamps, all lamps would go dark, demonstrating how interdependent components are in a series circuit.
The total voltage provided by the source will be the sum of the voltages across each individual component in the circuit, as the voltage across the battery must be equal to the total voltage across all other circuit components. The current flowing through each component in a series circuit is the same, although the voltage drop across each one varies. These voltage drops across each individual component add up to equal the total voltage from the power source.
When multiple voltage sources are in series, their internal resistances and electromotive forces (emfs) combine. The emfs add together to provide a cumulative effect on the circuit's voltage. While in parallel circuits, each resistor receives the full voltage of the source, and the parallel components operate independently. The series connection of resistors or voltage sources is common in devices such as flashlights and is used to create a larger total emf or voltage.