What is the total voltage in a series circuit based on the individual voltage sources?

In a series circuit, the total voltage is determined by adding the voltages of the individual sources. This is based on the principle that in a series configuration, the voltage across each component adds up to give the total voltage supplied in the circuit.

When multiple voltage sources, such as batteries, are connected in series, the voltage from each source contributes to the overall voltage experienced by the circuit. For example, if one battery provides 5 volts and another provides 3 volts, the total voltage in the circuit would be 5 volts + 3 volts, resulting in 8 volts. This fundamental property is essential for understanding how voltage works in series circuits and is critical for circuit design and analysis.

Other methods such as taking products, differences, or averages of the values would not accurately reflect the total voltage in a series configuration, as these do not represent how voltages combine in this type of circuit setup.