A circuit that contains both series and parallel elements is called a ____ circuit.

A circuit that contains both series and parallel elements is called a ____ circuit.

• A. Series circuit
• B. Parallel circuit
• C. Combination circuit
• D. Open circuit

Answer: (C)

When a circuit includes both series paths and parallel branches, it’s called a combination circuit. That mix is what defines the setup: some components share a single path so current flows through them one after another (series), while others split into separate branches that run in parallel before rejoining. Because of this, you compute the overall resistance by simplifying step by step—first combine any components in series to their equivalent resistance, then handle the parallel groups, and repeat until you get a single resistance for the whole circuit. This distinguishes combination circuits from pure series circuits (where every element is in one continuous path) and pure parallel circuits (where all elements connect across the same two nodes). An open circuit, by contrast, has a break that stops current entirely. So the term combination circuit best fits a setup with both series and parallel elements.

When a circuit includes both series paths and parallel branches, it’s called a combination circuit. That mix is what defines the setup: some components share a single path so current flows through them one after another (series), while others split into separate branches that run in parallel before rejoining. Because of this, you compute the overall resistance by simplifying step by step—first combine any components in series to their equivalent resistance, then handle the parallel groups, and repeat until you get a single resistance for the whole circuit. This distinguishes combination circuits from pure series circuits (where every element is in one continuous path) and pure parallel circuits (where all elements connect across the same two nodes). An open circuit, by contrast, has a break that stops current entirely. So the term combination circuit best fits a setup with both series and parallel elements.