What is a characteristic of resistance in a series circuit?

In a series circuit, the total resistance is calculated by summing the resistance values of all the resistors connected in that series. This is a fundamental property of series circuits, where the current that flows through each resistor is the same, but the voltage across each resistor can vary depending on its resistance value. The total resistance increases with each additional resistor because each one adds its resistance to the overall circuit, leading to a higher cumulative resistance.

This concept is based on Ohm's Law, which states that voltage across a conductor is directly proportional to the current flowing through it, allowing us to straightforwardly add resistances together to determine the total resistance in a series arrangement. In contrast, the average of all resistors does not accurately represent how resistance accumulates when resistors are combined in series, nor does it relate to the largest resistor specifically or indicate variability with current flow, as resistance remains constant as per Ohm's Law in a linear circuit.