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Parallel Circuits

A parallel circuit has at least one point where the circuit divides into more than one current path called branches. The current and voltage is the same across each branch. The total current is equal to the sum of the individual branch currents. The document provides examples of calculating total resistance of parallel circuits using formulas.

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jeany labaya
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13 views

Parallel Circuits

A parallel circuit has at least one point where the circuit divides into more than one current path called branches. The current and voltage is the same across each branch. The total current is equal to the sum of the individual branch currents. The document provides examples of calculating total resistance of parallel circuits using formulas.

Uploaded by

jeany labaya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Parallel Circuits

READ

A parallel circuit has at least one point where the circuit divides, creating more than one
path for current. Each path is called a branch. The current through a branch is called branch
current. If current flows into a branch in a circuit, the same amount of current must flow out
again, This rule is known as Kirchhoff’s current law.

Each branch in a parallel circuit has its own path to the battery; the voltage across each
branch is equal to the battery’s voltage.( VT=V1=V2=V3…) If you know the resistance and
voltage of a branch you can calculate the current with Ohm’s Law (I=V/R). In this connection
the total current is equal to the sum of the individual current. (IT+I1+I2+I3….)

LET’S PRACTICE »»»

1. Use the parallel circuit pictured right to answer


questions (a) to (d).

a. What is the voltage across each bulb?


b. What is the current in each branch?
c. What is the total current provided by the battery?
d. Use the total current and the total voltage to
calculate the total resistance of the circuit.(Remember that voltage drop is calculated by
multiplying current in the circuit by the resistance of a particular resistor: V = IR.)
e. Draw the path of the current on the diagram.

In part (d) of problems 1 you calculated the total resistance of each circuit. This required
you to first find the current in each branch. Then you found the total current and used Ohm’s
law to calculate the total resistance. Another way to find the total resistance of two parallel
resistors is to use the formula shown below.

EXAMPLE: Calculate the total resistance of a circuit containing two 6 ohm resistors.

Given Solution
The circuit contains two 6 Ω
resistors in parallel. =

Looking for
The total resistance of the circuit. = 3Ω

Relationship The total resistance is 3 ohms.


Name:___________________________ Year & Section: ______________Date:___________

Direction: Read and understand carefully the following word problems. Write your solution on
the Problem Solving Boxes provided below each problem.

1. Use the parallel circuit illustrated below to answer questions (a) - (c)

a. What is the voltage across each resistor?

Given Solution

Looking for

Relationships

b. What is the current in each branch?

Given Solution

Looking for

Relationships
c. What is the total current provided by the battery?

Given Solution

Looking for

Relationships

2. Calculate the total resistance of a circuit containing each of the following combinations of
resistors.

a. Two 8 Ω resistors in parallel

Given Solution

Looking for

Relationships

b. Two 12 Ω resistors in parallel

Given Solution

Looking for

Relationships

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