4th Lecture of Applied

Physics
Instructor Name: Kanwal Shahbaz
RESISTORS IN PARALLEL
• When two or more resistors are individually connected between two separate points
(nodes) in a circuit, they are in parallel with each other. A parallel circuit provides
more than one path for current.
• Each current path is called a branch, and a parallel circuit is one that has more than
one branch.
• Two resistors connected in parallel are shown in Figure 1(a). As shown in part (b),
the current out of the source divides when it gets to point A. goes through and goes
through If additional resistors are connected in parallel with the first two, more
current paths are provided between point A and point B, as shown in Figure 1(c).
• All points along the top shown in blue are electrically the same as point A, and all
points along the bottom shown in green are electrically the same as point B
A rule for identifying parallel circuits is as follows:
If there is more than one current path (branch) between two separate
points and if the voltage between those two points also appears across
each of the branches, then there is a parallel circuit between those two
points.
Figure 2 shows parallel resistors drawn in different ways between two
separate points labeled A and B. Notice that in each case, the current has
two paths going from A to B,
VOLTAGE IN A PARALLEL CIRCUIT
The voltage across any given branch of a parallel circuit is equal to the
voltage across each of the other branches in parallel. As you know,
each current path in a parallel circuit is called a branch.
To illustrate voltage in a parallel circuit, let’s examine Figure 7(a). Points
A, B, C, and D along the left side of the parallel circuit are electrically the
same point because the voltage is the same along this line. You can think
of all of these points as being connected by a single wire to the negative
terminal of the battery. The points E, F, G, and H along the right side of the
circuit are all at a voltage equal to that of the positive terminal of the
source. Thus, voltage across each parallel resistor is the same, and each is
equal to the source voltage. Note that the parallel circuit in Figure 7
resembles a ladder.
Figure 7(b) is the same circuit as in part (a), drawn in a slightly different way. Here
the left side of each resistor is connected to a single point, which is the negative
battery terminal. The right side of each resistor is connected to a single point, which
is the positive battery terminal. The resistors are still all in parallel across the source.
KIRCHHOFF’S CURRENT LAW
Kirchhoff’s voltage law deals with voltages in a single closed
path. Kirchhoff’s current law applies to currents in multiple
paths.
Kirchhoff’s current law, often abbreviated KCL, can be stated
as follows:
The sum of the currents into a node (total current in) is equal to
the sum of the currents out of that node (total current out).
node is any point or junction in a circuit where two or more
components are connected. In a parallel circuit, a node or
junction is a point where the parallel branches come together.
For example, in the circuit of Figure 12, point
A is one node and point B is another. Let’s start
at the positive terminal of the source and
follow the current. The total current from the
source is into node A. At this point, the current
splits up among the three branches as
indicated. Each of the three branch currents (
and ) is out of node A. Kirchhoff’s current law
says that the total current into node A is equal
to the total current out of node A; that is
𝑰𝑻 = 𝑰𝟏 +𝑰𝟐 + 𝑰𝟑
 KCL
IIN(1)+ IIN(2) + IIN(3) + .... + IIN(n) - IOUT(1) - IOUT(2) - IOUT(3)
- ....... - IOUT(m) = 0
This equation shows that all current into and out of the
junction sums to zero and can be stated as
The algebraic sum of all of the currents entering and
leaving a node is equal to zero.
An equivalent way of writing Kirchhoff ’s current law can
be expressed using mathematical summation shorthand.
𝒏

෍ 𝑰𝒊 = 𝟎
𝒊=𝟏
The branch currents are shown in the circuit of Figure. Determine the total
current entering node A and the total current leaving node B.
Determine the current 𝐈𝟐 through 𝐑𝟐 in Figure
Use Kirchhoff’s current law to find the current measured by ammeters A3 and
A5 in Figure.
TOTAL PARALLEL RESISTANCE
• When resistors are connected in parallel, the total resistance of the circuit
decreases. The total resistance of a parallel circuit is always less than the value of
the smallest resistor. For example, if a resistor and a resistor are connected in
parallel, the total resistance is less than .
• As you know, when resistors are connected in parallel, the current has more than
one path. The number of current paths is equal to the number of parallel branches.
• Assuming that the source voltage is constant, an increase in the total current from
the source means that the total resistance has decreased, in accordance with Ohm’s
law.
• Additional resistors connected in parallel will further reduce the resistance and
increase the total current.
Formula for Total Parallel Resistance

The circuit in Figure shows a general case of n resistors in parallel (n

can be any integer greater than 1). From Kirchhoff’s current law, the
equation for current is
IT = I1 + I2 + I3 + ....... + In
Since is the voltage across each of the parallel resistors, by Ohm’s law 𝐼1 = 𝑉𝑠 𝑅1 ,
𝑉
𝐼2 = 𝑠ൗ 𝑅 , and so on. By substitution into the equation for ൗ
2
current, 𝑉𝑠 𝑉𝑠 𝑉𝑠 𝑉𝑠 𝑉𝑠
= + + + ⋯+
𝑅𝑡 𝑅1 𝑅2 𝑅3 𝑅𝑛
The term 𝑉𝑠 can be factored out of the right side of the equation and canceled with
𝑉𝑠on the left side, leaving only the resistance terms.
1 1 1 1 1
= + + + ⋯+
𝑅𝑡 𝑅1 𝑅2 𝑅3 𝑅𝑛

Recall that the reciprocal of resistance (1/R) is called conductance, which is

symbolized by G. The unit of conductance is the siemens (S). The equation for can
be expressed in terms of conductance as
GT = G1 + G2 + G3 + ......... + Gn
Solve for by taking the reciprocal of (that is, by inverting) both sides of the equation
for 1/𝑅𝑡
1
𝑅𝑡 =
1 1 1 1
+ + + ⋯+
𝑅1 𝑅2 𝑅3 𝑅𝑛
shows that to find the total parallel resistance, add all the 1/R (or conductance, G)
terms and then take the reciprocal of the sum.
1
= 𝐺𝑡
𝑅
Calculate the total parallel resistance between points A and B of the circuit.
The Case of Two Resistors in Parallel
A general formula for finding the total resistance for any number of resistors in parallel. The
combination of two resistors in parallel occurs commonly in practice. Also, any number of
resistors in parallel can be broken down into pairs as an alternate way to find the Based on
Equation 2, the formula for the total resistance of two resistors in parallel is
𝟏
𝑹𝒕 =
𝟏 𝟏
+
𝑹𝟏 𝑹𝟐
𝟏
𝑹𝒕 =
𝑹𝟏 + 𝑹𝟐
𝑹𝟐𝑹𝟏

𝑹𝟏𝑹𝟐
𝑹𝒕 =
𝑹𝟏 + 𝑹𝟐
The total resistance for two resistors in parallel is equal to the product of the two resistors
divided by the sum of the two resistors.
Calculate the total resistance connected to the voltage source of the
circuit in Figure.
 The Case of Equal-Value Resistors in Parallel
Another special case of parallel circuits is the parallel connection of several resistors each
having the same resistance value. There is a shortcut method of calculating 𝑅𝑡 when this case
occurs. If several resistors in parallel have the same resistance, they can be assigned the same
symbol R.
For example, R1=R2=R3=.....=Rn=R. Then we can develop another formula
1
𝑅𝑡 =
1 1 1 1
+ + +⋯+
𝑅 𝑅 𝑅 𝑅
Notice that in the denominator, the same term, 1/R, is added n times (n is the number of
equal-value resistors in parallel). Therefore, the formula can be written as
1
𝑅𝑡
=𝑛 𝑅
ൗ 𝑅
𝑅𝑡 =
𝑛
 Determining an Unknown Parallel Resistor
Sometimes you need to determine the values of resistors that are to be combined to
produce a desired total resistance. For example, you use two parallel resistors to
obtain a known total resistance. If you know or arbitrarily choose one resistor value,
then you can calculate the second resistor value using Equation 3 for two parallel
resistors. The formula for determining the value of an unknown resistor is developed
as follows:
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= +
𝑹𝒕 𝑹𝑨 𝑹𝒙
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= −
𝑹𝒙 𝑹𝒕 𝑹𝑨
𝑹𝑨 𝑹𝒕
𝑹𝒙 =
𝑹𝑨 − 𝑹𝒕
Topic Related Problems
1. Suppose that you wish to obtain a resistance as close to 150 Ohm as
possible by combining two resistors in parallel. There is a 330 Ohm
resistor available. What other value do you need?
2. Four 8 ohm speakers are connected in parallel to the output of an
amplifier. What is the total resistance across the output of the
amplifier?
3. A 1.0 k Ohm and a 2.2 k Ohm resistor are connected in parallel.
There is a total of 100 mA through the parallel combination. How
much voltage is dropped across the resistors?
Find Total Resistanaces in the given Circuits.
Find the total current produced by the battery in Figure
Determine the current through each resistor in the parallel
circuit of Figure
Find the voltage across the parallel circuit in Figure
CURRENT SOURCES IN PARALLEL
A current source is a type of energy source that provides a constant
current to a load even if the resistance of that load changes. A transistor
can be used as a current source; therefore, current sources are important
in electronic circuits. Although the study of transistors is beyond the
scope of this chapter, you should understand how current sources act in
parallel.
Determine the current through Resistor in Figure
 CURRENT DIVIDERS
The total current divides among parallel resistors into currents with
values inversely proportional to the resistance values.
In a parallel circuit, the total current into the junction of the parallel
branches divides among the branches. Thus, a parallel circuit acts as a
current divider. This current-divider principle is for a two-branch parallel
circuit in which part of the total current goes through R1 and part through
R2.
The branches with higher resistance have less current, and the branches
with lower resistance have more current, in accordance with Ohm’s law.
If all the branches have the same resistance, the branch currents are all
equal.
The current through any one of the parallel resistors is where Ix
represents the number of a particular resistor (1, 2, 3, and so on). By
Ohm’s law, you can express the current through any one of the
resistors in as follows
𝑉𝑠
𝐼𝑥 =
𝑅𝑥
The source voltage, appears across each of the parallel resistors, and represents any
one of the parallel resistors. The total source voltage, is equal to the total current times
the total parallel resistance.
𝑉𝑠= 𝐼𝑡𝑅𝑡
𝐼 𝑡𝑅𝑡
𝐼𝑥 =
𝑅𝑥
𝑅
𝐼𝑥 = ( )𝐼
𝑅𝑥

The current (Ix) through any branch equals the total parallel resistance (𝑅𝑡) divided by
the resistance (Rx) of that branch, and then multiplied by the total current (𝐼𝑡) into the
junction of parallel branches.
Determine the current through each resistor in the circuit of
Figure.
 Current-Divider Formulas for Two Branches
Two parallel resistors are common in practical circuits. As you know from Equation,
𝑹𝟏𝑹𝟐
𝑹𝒕 =
𝑹𝟏 + 𝑹𝟐
Using the general current-divider formula in Equation 6, the formulas for I1 and I2 can be written as follows:
𝐑 𝐑
𝐈𝟏 = ( 𝐭 )𝐈𝐭 and 𝐈𝟐 = ( 𝐭 )𝐈𝐭
𝐑𝟏 𝐑𝟐
Then
𝐑𝟏𝐑𝟐 𝐑𝟏𝐑𝟐
𝐑 𝟏+𝐑 𝟐
𝐈𝟏 = ( )𝐈𝐭 and 𝐈𝟐 = (𝐑𝟏+𝐑𝟐)𝐈 𝐭
𝐑𝟏 𝐑𝟐
Therefore, the current-divider formulas for the special case of two branches are
𝐑𝟐
𝐈𝟏 = ( )𝐈𝐭
𝐑𝟏 + 𝐑𝟐
𝐑𝟏
𝐈𝟐𝟏 = ( )𝐈
𝐑𝟏 + 𝐑𝟐 𝐭
the current in one of the branches is equal to the opposite branch resistance divided by the sum of the two
resistors, all multiplied by the total current.
Find I1 and I2 in Figure
Determine the current through R3 in Figure.
Thank You