Parallel Circuit Physics Example 1
Follow the full solution, then compare it with the other examples linked below.
Example 1
mediumTwo resistors ( and ) are connected in parallel to a battery. What is the total resistance and the current through each resistor?
Solution
- 1 Total resistance:
- 2 Current through : .
- 3 Current through : .
- 4 Total current: (consistent with ).
Answer
In parallel circuits, voltage is the same across all branches. The total resistance is less than the smallest individual resistance, and more current flows through the smaller resistor.
About Parallel Circuit
A parallel circuit connects components in separate branches between two common nodes, so each component gets the full source voltage.
Learn more about Parallel Circuit →More Parallel Circuit Examples
Example 2 hard
Three identical [formula] resistors are connected in parallel. What is the total resistance?
Example 3 mediumA [formula] and a [formula] resistor are in parallel. What is the combined resistance?
Example 4 mediumThree resistors of [formula], [formula], and [formula] are connected in parallel. Find the total res
Example 5 mediumTwo resistors ([formula] and [formula]) are connected in parallel across a [formula] supply. Find: (