The parallel circuit rules show how to use Ohm's law when the circuit has more than one device receiving electrical energy. It will also help us see how the resistance, the current, and the voltage change in the parallel circuit. A parallel circuit is shown below. Notice that the circuit has 2 switches (green), 1 voltage source of 24 volts, and 2 resistors.
In a parallel circuit, the current has more than 1 pathway.
To be more precise, the circuit has 2 pathways or 2 branches.
Simply put, the current has the ability to "make choices" as to where it would go. If the current can either go this way or that way, then the circuit is a parallel circuit.
Look carefully at the circuit below and you will see that the current can either go to the 8 Ohms resistor or the 4 Ohms resistor. This is what we mean by "making choices."
Take a close look at the two red dots. Did you notice that both devices are connected to the same two red dots? This means that both devices are fed by the same voltage of 24 volts.
Rule #1: Devices in parallel circuits have the same voltage as the voltage source.
Now, let us talk about the current. Let us pretend that the resistance is the same in both branches.
Since there is a resistance, the current going there will be less.
Since the resistance is the same for both branches, it makes sense to say that both branches will receive the same amount of current.
Rule #2: In parallel circuit, the current in the circuit is equal to the the sum of the currents in its parallel branches.
I =
V
R1
|
+
V
R2
|
I = (
1
R1
|
+
1
R2
) V equation 1
|
Rule #3:
1
Rp
|
=
1
R1
|
+
1
R2
|
The parallel circuit rules can be summarized and generalized as below
Let V be the voltage feeding the circuit
1
Rp
|
=
1
R1
|
+
1
R2
+ ...
|
+
1
Rn
|
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Mar 16, 17 03:15 PM
Great lesson about the law of reflection. Crystal clear explanation
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