Final answer:
In a series circuit, the current is the same through all resistors, the equivalent resistance is the sum of all resistances, and the total voltage is the sum of voltage drops across each resistor.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Series Circuits
When resistors are connected in series, there is only one path for current to flow, which means currents through all resistors are the same. This can be understood by considering that the electrons flowing through the circuit must pass through each resistor in turn. Therefore, the same number of electrons will flow through each resistor per unit time.
Regarding the resistance, for resistors in series, the equivalent resistance of the circuit is indeed the algebraic sum of all resistors. This means that if you have resistors R1, R2, and R3 in series, the total resistance Rs is R1 + R2 + R3. This sum is simply the total 'opposition' the current will meet as it travels through each resistor.
In terms of voltage, the total voltage on this combination is the algebraic sum of voltages on each resistor. The battery provides a certain amount of voltage that is distributed across the series of resistors. According to Ohm's Law (V=IR), each resistor will have a voltage drop that depends on the resistor's value and the current. The sum of these voltage drops equals the total voltage supplied by the battery.