electronics fundamentals
circuits, devices, and applications
PRESENTED BY M. KUMCHEZA
chapter 5
M. Kumcheza
Department of Engineering
Chapter 5
Resistors in parallel
Resistors that are connected to the same two points
are said to be in parallel.
A
R1 R2 R3 R4
M. Kumcheza
Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle
Floyd/Buchla Department of Engineering River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 5
Parallel circuits
A parallel circuit is identified by the fact that it has
more than one current path (branch) connected to a
common voltage source.
+ R1 R2 R3 R4
VS
M. Kumcheza
Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle
Floyd/Buchla Department of Engineering River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 5
Parallel circuit rule for voltage
Because all components are connected across the same
voltage source, the voltage across each is the same.
For example, the source voltage is 5.0 V. What will a volt-
meter read if it is placed across each of the resistors?
+5.0 V +5.0 V +5.0 V +5.0 V
- + - + - + - +
VS R1 R2 R3
+5.0 V 680 1.5 k 2.2 k
M. Kumcheza
Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle
Floyd/Buchla Department of Engineering River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 5
Parallel circuit rule for resistance
The total resistance of resistors in parallel is
the reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocals of
the individual resistors.
For example, the resistors in a parallel circuit are 680 ,
1.5 k, and 2.2 k. What is the total resistance? 386
+ R1 R2 R3
VS
680 1.5 k 2.2 k
M. Kumcheza
Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle
Floyd/Buchla Department of Engineering River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 5
Special case for resistance R1 R2
of two parallel resistors
The resistance of two parallel resistors can be found by
1 R1 R2
R
either: T 1 1 or RT
R1 R2
R1 R2
What is the total resistance if R1 = 27 k and
R2 = 56 k? 18.2 k
M. Kumcheza
Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle
Floyd/Buchla Department of Engineering River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 5
Parallel circuit + R1 R2 R3
VS
680 1.5 k 2.2 k
Tabulating current, resistance, voltage and power is a
useful way to summarize parameters in a parallel circuit.
Continuing with the previous example, complete the
parameters listed in the Table.
I1= 7.4 mA R1= 0.68 k V1= 5.0 V P1= 36.8 mW
I2= 3.3 mA R2= 1.50 k V2= 5.0 V P2= 16.7 mW
I3= 2.3 mA R3= 2.20 k V3= 5.0 V P3= 11.4 mW
IT= 13.0 mA RT= 386 VS= 5.0 V PT= 64.8 mW
M. Kumcheza
Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle
Floyd/Buchla Department of Engineering River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 5
Kirchhoff’s current law
Kirchhoff’s current law (KCL) is generally stated as:
The sum of the currents entering a node is equal to the
sum of the currents leaving the node.
Notice in the previous example that the current from
the source is equal to the sum of the branch currents.
I1= 7.4 mA R1= 0.68 k V1= 5.0 V P1= 36.8 mW
I2= 3.3 mA R2= 1.50 k V2= 5.0 V P2= 16.7 mW
I3= 2.3 mA R3= 2.20 k V3= 5.0 V P3= 11.4 mW
IT= 13.0 mA RT= 386 VS= 5.0 V PT= 64.8 mW
M. Kumcheza
Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle
Floyd/Buchla Department of Engineering River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 5
Current divider
When current enters a node (junction) it divides into
currents with values that are inversely proportional to the
resistance values.
The most widely used formula for the current divider
is the two-resistor equation. For resistors R1 and R2,
R2 R1
I1 I T and I 2 IT
R1 R2 R1 R2
Notice the subscripts. The resistor in the numerator is
not the same as the one for which current is found.
M. Kumcheza
Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle
Floyd/Buchla Department of Engineering River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 5
Current divider
Assume that R1is a 2.2 k resistor that is in
parallel with R2, which is 4.7 k. If the total
current into the resistors is 8.0 mA, what is
the current in each resistor?
R2 4.7 k
I1 IT 8.0 mA = 5.45 mA
R1 R2 6.9 k
R1 2.2 k
I2
T
I 8.0 mA = 2.55 mA
R1 R2 6.9 k
Notice that the larger resistor has the smaller current.
M. Kumcheza
Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle
Floyd/Buchla Department of Engineering River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 5
Power in parallel circuits
Power in each resistor can be calculated with any of the
standard power formulas. Most of the time, the voltage is
V2
known, so the equation P is most convenient.
R
As in the series case, the total power is the sum
of the powers dissipated in each resistor.
What is the total power if 10 V is applied to the parallel
combination of R1 = 270 and R2 = 150 ? 1.04 W
M. Kumcheza
Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle
Floyd/Buchla Department of Engineering River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 5
Assume there are 8 resistive wires that form a rear window defroster
for an automobile.
(a) If the defroster dissipates 90 W when connected to a 12.6 V source,
what power is dissipated by each resistive wire?
(b) What is the total resistance of the defroster?
(a) Each of the 8 wires will dissipate 1/8 of the total
power or 90 W
11.25 W
8 wires
12.6 V
2
V2
(b) The total resistance is R 1.76
P 90 W
What is the resistance of each wire? 1.76 x 8 = 14.1
M. Kumcheza
Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle
Floyd/Buchla Department of Engineering River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 5
Key Terms
Parallel The relationship in electric circuits in which
two or more current paths are connected
between two separate points (nodes).
Branch One current path in a parallel circuit.
Kirchhoff’s A law stating the total current into a node
current law equals the total current out of the node.
Node A point or junction in a circuit at which two
or more components are connected.
Current divider A parallel circuit in which the currents divide
inversely proportional to the parallel branch
resistances.
M. Kumcheza
Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle
Floyd/Buchla Department of Engineering River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 5
TYU
1. The total resistance of parallel resistors is equal to
a. the sum of the resistances
b. the sum of the reciprocals of the resistances
c. the sum of the conductances
d. none of the above
M. Kumcheza
Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle
Floyd/Buchla Department of Engineering River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 5
TYU
2. The number of nodes in a parallel circuit is
a. one
b. two
c. three
d. any number
M. Kumcheza
Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle
Floyd/Buchla Department of Engineering River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 5
TYU
3. The total resistance of the parallel resistors is
a. 2.52 k
b. 3.35 k
R1 R2 R3
c. 5.1 k 10 k 10 k 5.1 k
d. 25.1 k
M. Kumcheza
Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle
Floyd/Buchla Department of Engineering River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 5
TYU
4. If three equal resistors are in parallel, the total
resistance is
a. one third the value of one resistor.
b. the same as one resistor.
c. three times the value of one resistor.
d. the product of the three resistors
M. Kumcheza
Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle
Floyd/Buchla Department of Engineering River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 5
TYU
5. In any circuit the total current entering a node is
a. less than the total current leaving the node.
b. equal to the total current leaving the node.
c. greater than the total current leaving the node.
d. can be any of the above, depending on the circuit.
M. Kumcheza
Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle
Floyd/Buchla Department of Engineering River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 5
TYU
6. The current divider formula to find I1 for the special
case of two resistors is
R1
a. I1 IT
RT
R2
I
b. 1 IT
RT
R2
c. I1 IT
R1 R2
R1
d. I1 IT
R1 R2
M. Kumcheza
Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle
Floyd/Buchla Department of Engineering River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 5
TYU
7. The total current leaving the source is
a. 1.0 mA
b. 1.2 mA VS + R1 R2
12 V 10 k 2.0 k
c. 6.0 mA
d. 7.2 mA
M. Kumcheza
Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle
Floyd/Buchla Department of Engineering River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 5
TYU
8. The current in R1 is
a. 6.7 mA
b. 13.3 mA R1 R2
I = 20 mA 100 200
c. 20 mA
d. 26.7 mA
M. Kumcheza
Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle
Floyd/Buchla Department of Engineering River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 5
TYU
9. The voltage across R2 is
a. 0 V
b. 0.67 V R1 R2
I = 20 mA 100 200
c. 1.33 V
d. 4.0 V
M. Kumcheza
Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle
Floyd/Buchla Department of Engineering River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 5
TYU
10. The total power dissipated in a parallel circuit is
equal to the
a. power in the largest resistor.
b. power in the smallest resistor.
c. average of the power in all resistors.
d. sum of the power in all resistors.
M. Kumcheza
Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle
Floyd/Buchla Department of Engineering River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.