PARALLEL CIRCUITS

CORE COMPETENCIES
I.OBJECTIVES
• Identify what is a Parallel Circuit.
• Familiarize with the different working principle, characteristic, application,
advantages and disadvantages of a parallel circuit.
II.INTRODUCTION

A parallel circuit has branches that divide the current so that just a part
of it passes through each branch. On the other hand, the essential
concept of a “parallel” connection is that all components are linked
across each other’s leads. No matter how many components are
connected in a purely parallel circuit, there are never more than two
sets of electrically common points. There are numerous current flow
pathways, but only one voltage exists across all components.
What is a Parallel Circuit?
Parallel circuits allow charge to pass across two or more routes due to
these characteristics, making them a popular choice for use in houses and
electrical equipment with a reliable and efficient power supply. When a
component of a circuit is damaged or destroyed, electricity can flow via
other parts of the circuit, and power can be distributed evenly over
multiple buildings. A diagram and an example of a parallel circuit can be
used to explain these features.
 Parallel Circuit Configuration

We have three resistors this time, but they form more than one continuous current route this time.
One path leads from 1 to 2 to 7 to 8 and back to 1. Another goes from 1 to 2 to 3 to 6 to 7 to 8 and
then back to 1. There’s also a third path that goes from 1 to 2 to 3 to 4 to 5 to 6 to 7 to 8 and back to
1. Each path (via R1, R2, and R3) is referred to as a branch.
A parallel circuit is distinguished by the fact that all components are linked to the same set of
electrically common terminals. We can see those points 1, 2, 3, and 4 are all electrically connected
in the schematic diagram. Points 8, 7, 6, and 5 are also in this category. Between these two sets of
points, all resistors, as well as the batteries, are connected.
Parallel Circuit Characteristics
Parallel circuits use branches to allow current to flow in
multiple directions via the circuit. Current flows from the
positive to the negative end of a battery or voltage source. The
current changes depending on the resistance of each branch,
while the voltage remains constant throughout the circuit.
Parallel circuits are set up in such a way that current can flow through different
branches at the same time. Voltage, not current, remains constant throughout, and
voltage and current may be calculated using Ohm’s Law. The circuit can be handled
as both a series and a parallel circuit in series-parallel circuits.
Parallel Circuits Calculations
A parallel electronic circuit is one that has two or more electronic
components connected in such a way that each component’s lead is
connected to the corresponding lead of every other component in the
circuit. It is simple to connect a parallel circuit with two resistors.
Connect the first resistor’s left lead to the second resistor’s left lead
first, then the right lead of the first resistor to the right lead of the
second resistor.
Product-Over Sum Rule
Using the product over the sum rule is one of the simplest techniques
to compute the equivalent resistance of two parallel resistors. The
equivalent resistance is equal to the product of the two resistors
divided by the sum of the two resistances, according to this rule. If a 2-
Ohm resistor were connected in parallel with a 6-Ohm resistor, the
product would be 12 and the sum would be 8. Because 12 divided by 8
equals 1.5, the product over the sum would be 1.5.
Power Supply Current Problem
Two resistors are frequently linked in parallel before being connected
across the terminals of a power supply. A common challenge with such
a system is determining the entire amount of current flowing from the
supply. The current flowing from the battery is equal to the battery
voltage divided by the equivalent resistance of the two parallel
resistors, according to Ohm’s law. The current from the battery would
be equal to 10 amperes if the battery voltage was 15 volts and the
equivalent resistance was 1.5 Ohms because 15 divided by 1.5 equals
10.
Branch Currents
Branch currents are the currents that pass through each parallelly
connected resistor. Like water in a river, current from a battery split
between the resistor branches as it reaches the point (node) that joins
the branches of a parallel resistor circuit. The overall current from the
power source will be equal to the sum of the current in the two
branches. The quantity of current in each branch, however, will be
determined by the value of the branch’s resistance. A branch with a
lower resistor value will have greater current than a branch with a
higher resistor value.
Branch Current Calculations
When a 15 Volt battery is connected in parallel with a 6-ohm and 2-
ohm resistor, the current flowing through the 6-ohm resistor is equal to
the voltage across the 6-ohm resistor—that is, 15 Volts divided by the
resistor’s value of 6 ohms. Because 15 divided by 6 is 2.5, the current
would be 2.5 amperes. Similarly, because 15 divided by 2 is 7.5, the
current through the 2-ohm resistor would be 7.5 amperes. As
illustrated above, the total branch current, 7.5 plus 2.5 or 10 amperes,
must be equal to the battery voltage divided by the equivalent
resistance.
Voltage Drops Across Parallel Components
It was mentioned earlier in the discussion of how to measure the
voltage that voltage drops across parallel components in a circuit are
the same. Kirchhoff’s voltage law states that in a closed-loop, the sum
of all voltages (the positive voltage from the power source and the
voltage drops from components) must equal zero.