If a component is disconnected in a series circuit, what happens to the current?

If a component is disconnected in a series circuit, what happens to the current?

• A. Current continues
• B. Current stops flowing
• C. Current doubles
• D. Current becomes alternating

Answer: (B)

In a series circuit, the same current has to pass through every component because there’s only one path for the charge to take. If you disconnect one component, the path is broken and the circuit becomes open. Without a closed loop for the current to follow, electrons can’t complete the circuit, so the current flow drops to zero. In real circuits there can be a brief transient due to stray capacitance or inductance, but in steady-state DC the current is zero. Therefore, the current stops flowing.

In a series circuit, the same current has to pass through every component because there’s only one path for the charge to take. If you disconnect one component, the path is broken and the circuit becomes open. Without a closed loop for the current to follow, electrons can’t complete the circuit, so the current flow drops to zero. In real circuits there can be a brief transient due to stray capacitance or inductance, but in steady-state DC the current is zero. Therefore, the current stops flowing.