What determines the overall characteristics of a series circuit?

The overall characteristics of a series circuit are determined by the total voltage supplied to the circuit and the individual resistances of the components within it. In a series circuit, the total voltage is divided among the resistors, so knowing the total voltage allows you to understand how it will be distributed across each resistor based on their resistance values.

The total resistance in a series circuit is simply the sum of all individual resistances, which directly influences the current flowing through the circuit according to Ohm's Law (V = IR). This means both the total voltage provided and the values of individual resistances play a crucial role in the circuit's overall behavior, including current flow and voltage drops across each resistor.

While the arrangement of resistors is a factor, in a series circuit, the unique characteristic is that all resistors are connected end-to-end, leading to the current being uniform throughout the circuit. Other options, such as only considering the power source or only individual voltage sources, do not capture the complete picture of how the series circuit operates as they neglect the impact of resistance on the current and voltage distribution.