In a series circuit, what happens to the current if the circuit is opened (a break occurs)?

In a series circuit, what happens to the current if the circuit is opened (a break occurs)?

• A. The current becomes zero
• B. The voltage across each component increases
• C. The resistance decreases
• D. The current doubles

Answer: (A)

Opening the circuit breaks the single path that current needs in a series arrangement, so no charge can flow. In a series circuit, current is the same through every component only when the loop is complete; a break stops the flow entirely, making the current zero. Since current is zero, the voltage drop across each resistor is V = IR = 0, and the full supply voltage appears across the open gap. This is why the current becomes zero in an opened series circuit.

Opening the circuit breaks the single path that current needs in a series arrangement, so no charge can flow. In a series circuit, current is the same through every component only when the loop is complete; a break stops the flow entirely, making the current zero. Since current is zero, the voltage drop across each resistor is V = IR = 0, and the full supply voltage appears across the open gap. This is why the current becomes zero in an opened series circuit.