Which of the following describes the two types of battery configurations?

The two types of battery configurations are indeed series and parallel.

In a series configuration, batteries are connected end-to-end, which increases the total voltage of the system while maintaining the same capacity (amp-hours) as a single battery. For example, if you connect two 1.5V batteries in series, the total output voltage would be 3V. This configuration is useful when a higher voltage is needed for a circuit.

In a parallel configuration, batteries are connected in such a way that the positive terminals are linked together and the negative terminals are also linked together. This setup maintains the same voltage as a single battery but increases the overall capacity (amp-hours). For instance, connecting two 1.5V batteries in parallel would still yield 1.5V but would allow the system to deliver more current over a longer period of time.

Understanding these configurations is crucial when designing circuits that require specific voltage and current characteristics, as the choice between series and parallel will affect the performance and efficiency of the circuit.