How is total voltage determined in a series connection of battery cells?

Total voltage in a series connection of battery cells is determined by adding the voltage outputs of each cell. In a series circuit, the total voltage is the sum of the voltages across each individual battery. For instance, if you have three cells, each providing 1.5 volts, the total voltage would be 1.5V + 1.5V + 1.5V, resulting in a total of 4.5 volts.

This method of calculating total voltage is fundamental to understanding how series circuits function. Each cell contributes its voltage independently and the arrangement ensures that the voltages are cumulative.

The other methods, such as multiplying the number of cells by the current, do not accurately reflect how voltage is calculated in a series configuration. Averaging the voltage of the cells would not provide the correct total since the voltage contributions of each cell are not equal in many cases, and dividing total capacity by the number of cells does not give any meaningful measure of voltage. Thus, the process of summing the voltage from each cell is the correct approach to find the total voltage in a series connection.