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PARALLEL CIRCUITS
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4 Figure 5
Figure 6 Figure 7
Voltage across each parallel resistor is the same, and each is equal to the source
voltage.
The sum of the current into a node (total current in) is equal to the sum of the
currents out of that node (total current out).
Figure 8
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 10 resistor and a 100 resistor are connected in
parallel, the total resistance is less than 10 .
Figure 9
IT = I1 + I2 + + In
Since VS is the voltage across each of the parallel resistors, by Ohms law, I 1 =
VS / R1 , I2 = VS / R2 , and so on. By substitution into the current equation,
VS VS VS VS
RT = R1 + R2 ++ Rn
The term VS can be factored out of the right side of the equation and canceled with
VS on the left side, leaving only the reciprocal resistance terms.
VS 1 1 1
RT = VS ( + + +
R 1 R2 Rn )
1 1 1 1
= + ++
RT R1 R2 Rn
The total resistance of two resistors in parallel is equal to the product of the two
resistors divided by the sum of the two resistors.
R 1 R2
RT = R1 +R2
R
RT = n
You already know how to use Ohms law to determine the current in any parallel
branch when you know the voltage and resistance. When the voltage is not known but
the total current is, you can find both of the branch currents (I 1 and I2) by using the
following formulas:
R2 R1
I1 = ( ) I
R 1+ R T
2
I2 = ( ) I
R 1+ R T
2
Figure 10
The current in any branch can be determined with the following formula:
RT
Ix = ( )I
Rx T
Where x = 1, 2, 3, etc. for example, the formula for current in the second branch in
Figure 10 is
RT
I2 = ( )
Rx
I
T
That equation can be used for a parallel circuit with any number of branches.
Notice that you must determine RT in order to use that equation to find a branch current.
Total power in a parallel circuit is found by adding up the powers of all the
individual resistors, the same as you did for series circuits. Here the formula for total
power with any number of resistors in parallel.
PT = P1 + P2 + P3 + + Pn
Where PT is the total power and Pn is the power in the last resistor in parallel. As
we can see, the power losses are additive, just as in the series circuit.
PT = VS IT
PT = I2T RT
V 2S
PT = RT
Where VS is the voltage across the parallel circuit, IT is the total current into the
parallel circuit, and RT is the total resistance of the parallel circuit.