What characterizes a series circuit?

A series circuit is characterized by having only one possible path for electron flow. In this type of circuit, all components are connected end-to-end in a single path, meaning that the same current flows through all components, such as resistors, capacitors, or devices. Because there is only one route for the current, if any component fails or is disconnected, the entire circuit stops functioning.

This characteristic leads to specific behaviors of series circuits, such as the voltage across the entire circuit being equal to the sum of the individual voltages across each component. Additionally, the total resistance in the circuit is simply the sum of the individual resistances. This contrasts with parallel circuits, which provide multiple paths for current flow.

The other options present contrasting concepts. Multiple paths for electron flow describes a parallel circuit, where disconnecting one path doesn’t affect the others. Easily adjustable resistance is often more applicable to variable resistors or specific circuit designs rather than being a defining trait of a series circuit. While series circuits can operate on alternating current, they can also run on direct current, so saying they exclusively operate on alternating current is inaccurate.