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Characteristics of Current in Parallel Circuits

Parallel circuits have multiple pathways for current flow, with each branch acting independently. The voltage across each branch is equal to the total supplied voltage, and the total current is the sum of the currents in each branch, while the total resistance is always less than any individual branch. Applications include home wiring, car electrical systems, and electronic devices.

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106 views2 pages

Characteristics of Current in Parallel Circuits

Parallel circuits have multiple pathways for current flow, with each branch acting independently. The voltage across each branch is equal to the total supplied voltage, and the total current is the sum of the currents in each branch, while the total resistance is always less than any individual branch. Applications include home wiring, car electrical systems, and electronic devices.

Uploaded by

shirshadasgupta10
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Key Characteristics:

 Branches: A parallel circuit has multiple pathways for current to flow, called
branches. Each branch acts as an independent circuit.
 Voltage: The voltage across each branch is equal to the total voltage supplied
by the source.
 Current: The total current in the circuit is the sum of the currents in each
branch.
 Resistance: The total resistance of a parallel circuit is always less than the
resistance of any individual branch.

Visualizing a Parallel Circuit:

simple parallel circuit with a battery, three resistors, and three branches

How Current Flows:

1. Current from the source: The current flows from the positive terminal of the
battery, splits into the branches, and then recombines at the negative
terminal.
2. Independent branches: The current in each branch is determined by the
resistance in that branch, according to Ohm's Law (I = V/R).
3. Total current: The total current in the circuit is the sum of the currents in each
branch.

Formulas for Parallel Circuits:

 Total resistance: 1/R_total = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 + ... (for resistors in parallel)
 Total current: I_total = I1 + I2 + I3 + ... (for currents in parallel branches)

Example:
Consider a parallel circuit with three resistors: 10 ohms, 20 ohms, and 30 ohms. The
total resistance of the circuit is:

1/R_total = 1/10 + 1/20 + 1/30 = 11/60 R_total = 5.45 ohms

This means the total resistance of the circuit is less than any of the individual
resistors.

Applications of Parallel Circuits:

 Home electrical wiring: Outlets and lights are connected in parallel, allowing
them to operate independently.
 Car electrical systems: Headlights, taillights, and other electrical components
are typically connected in parallel.
 Electronic circuits: Parallel circuits are used in many electronic devices to
provide multiple pathways for current flow.

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