ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS-1 (DC)

Chapter 6: Parallel Circuit

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 Two Elements are in Parallel
Two elements, branches, or circuits are in parallel:
1. They have two points in common.
2. The currents are not the same through the two parallel elements.
3. The voltage are the same across the two parallel elements.
Figure 3: R1 and R2 are in
Figure 1: R1 and R2 are Figure 2: R1 and R2 are series. The series
parallel since they have parallel since they have two combination of R1 and R2 are
two common points a common points a and b. R is parallel with R3
3
and b. series with the parallel
combination of R1 and R2.

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 Identify the Combination of Connection for the Following Circuit

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 6.2 Parallel Resistance
❖ The total or net or effective or equivalent conductance of a parallel configuration is the sum of
the value of individual conductance, that is Eq. (6.2).
❖ The reciprocal of the total or effective or net or equivalent resistance of a parallel circuit is equal to
the sum of the reciprocal of the individual resistances, that is Eq. (6.1). Eq. (6.3) can be obtained
from Eq. (6.1).

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❖ The total or equivalent resistance is the smallest of all the
individual resistances. that is Eq. (6.1.1).
❖ The total resistance of n resistors of the same value in
parallel is simply divide the value of one of the resistors by
the number of resistor in parallel; that is as Eq. (6.4)

R
If R1 = R2 = R3 = ...... = RN = R RN = (6.4)
N

Special Case: Two Parallel Resistors

The total resistance of two parallel resistors is simply the product of
their values divided by their sum.
1 1 1 R1 + R2 R1R2
= + =  RT = (6.5)
RT R1 R2 R1R2 R1 + R2

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EXAMPLE 6.1
a. Find the total conductance of the parallel network in Fig. 6.4.
b. Find the total resistance of the same network using (i) the results of
part (a), (ii) using Eq. (6.3) and (iii) using Eq. (6.5).
1 1 1 1
Solution: a. G1 = = = 0.333 S, G2 = = = 0.167 S
R1 3  R2 6 
GT = G1 + G2 = 0.333 S + 0.167 S = 0.5 S

1 1
b. (i ) RT = = =2 Ω
GT 0.5 S
(ii) Applying Eq. (6.3): (iii) Applying Eq. (6.5):
1 1 R1R2 (3 )(6 ) 18 
RT = = RT = = = =2Ω
1 1 1 1 R1 + R2 3  + 6  9
+ +
R1 R2 3 6 
1 1
= = =2Ω
0.333 S + 0.167 S 0.5 S
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EXAMPLE 6.5 Find the total resistance of the parallel resistors in (i) Fig. 6.9 and (ii) Fig. 6.11.

Solution: In both figures the individual resistance value are equal.

For Fig. 6.9: For Fig. 6.11:

R1 = R2 = R3 = R = 12  R1 = R2 = R3 = R4 = R = 2 
Total resistance: Applying Eq. (6.4): Total resistance: Applying Eq. (6.3):
R 12  R 2
RT = = =4Ω RT = = = 0.5 Ω
N 3 N 4

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Problem 9 [P. 235] Determine R1 for the network in Fig. 6.80 Practice Example 6.10 and 6.11
Solution: Here, all resistance are connected in parallel.
a
Let, R2 = 24 , R3 = 24 , and R4 = 120 
a
1 1 1 1 1 R2 a
We know that, = + + +
RT R1 R2 R3 R4
a R
1 1 1 1 1  b 4
= − + + 
R1 RT  R2 R3 R4 
b R3
b
1  1 1 1 
= − + +
10   24  24  120  
b
= 0.1 S + 0.042 S + 0.042 S + 0.008 S = 0.192 S
1
R1 = = 5.21 Ω
0.192 S

Practice Book Problem [SECTION 6.2 Parallel Resistors] and related exercise problems

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A parallel circuit is one in which several resistances 6.3 Parallel Circuit
are connected across one another in such a way that
one terminal of each is connected to from a junction
point while the remaining ends are also joined to form
another junction point.
Voltage in a parallel circuit: the voltage is always the
same across parallel elements.

For single-source parallel networks, the

Current Calculation of a Parallel circuit: source current (Is) is always equal to the
According ohm’s law, the current of the following sum of the individual branch currents.
circuit is as follows:
I s = I1 + I 2 + I 3....I n (6.9)
E
Is = (6.7)
RT If R1 = R2 = R3 = ...... = Rn = R
V1 E V2 E Vn E I
I1 = = ; I2 = = ; In = = (6.8) I1 = I 2 = I 3 = .... = I n = s
R1 R1 R2 R2 Rn Rn n

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EXAMPLE 6.13 For the parallel network in Fig. 6.23.
a. Find the total resistance.
b. Calculate the source current.
c. Determine the current through each branch.
Solution:

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Practice Book Problem [SECTION 6.3 Parallel Circuits] and related exercise problems
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 6.6 Current Division in Parallel Circuit
Current Divider Rule (CDR)
Current pass through individual
resistance in a series circuit : According
ohm’s law, the of the following circuit is
as follows: Based on the Eq. (6.14.1) to (16.14.n), a
V1 E RT G1 general equation can be written as follows:
I1 = = = Is = I s (6.14.1)
R1 R1 R1 GT
RT Gx
V2 E RT G2 Ix = Is = Is (6.8)
I2 = = = Is = Is (6.14.2) Rx GT
R2 R2 R2 GT
.. . Current Divider Rule (CDR): The current through any
branch of a parallel resistive network is equal to the
Vn E RT Gn
In = = = Is = Is (6.14.n) total resistance of the parallel network divided by the
Rn Rn Rn GT resistor of interest and multiplied by the total current
entering the parallel configuration.

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EXAMPLE 6.6.1 For the following parallel network as shown in following figure. Using current
divider rule, determine the current through each branch.
Solution:
1 1 1 1 1 1 1
= + + = + +
RT R1 R2 R3 10  220  1.2 103 
= 105.38 10−3 S

1 Applying current divider rule (CDR) Eq. (6.8):

RT = = 9.49 
105.38 10 −3
S RT 9.49 
I1 = Is =  2.53 A = 2.4 A
R1 10 
RT 9.49 
I2 = Is =  2.53 A = 0.11 A
E 24 V R2 220 
Is = = = 2.53 A
RT 9.49  R 9.49 
I3 = T I s = 3
 2.53 A = 0.02 A
R3 1.2 10 
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EXAMPLE 6.6.2 For the following parallel network as shown in following figure. Using current
divider rule, determine the current through each branch.
Solution:
1 1
RT = = =4
1 1 1 1 1 1
+ + + +
R1 R2 R3 10  20  10 
Applying current divider rule CDR) Eq. (6.8):
RT 4
I1 = Is = 10 A = 4 A
R1 10  Since R1 and R3 are equal, the current I1 and
R 4 I3 must be equal.
I2 = T Is = 10 A = 2 A
R2 20 
Since R2 is twice R1 or R3, the current I2 must
RT 4
I3 = Is = 10 A = 4 A be one-half I1 or I3.
R3 10 
Practice Book Problem [SECTION 6.6 CDR] and related exercise problems
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 6.5 KIRCHHOFF’S CURRENT LAW (KCL)

Statement:
(1) The algebraic sum of the currents entering and
leaving a junction (or region) of a network is zero.
 I entering −  I leaving = 0 (6.13.1)

(2) The sum of the currents entering a junction (or

region) of a network must equal the sum of the I1 + I 4 − I 2 − I 3 = 0
currents leaving the same junction (or region).

 I entering =  I leaving I1 + I 4 = I 2 + I 3
(6.13)

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Solution:

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 I2 = 2 Amp not 2 mA

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Problem 25 [P. 238] Using Kirchoff’s current law, find the
unknown currents for the complex configurations in Fig. 6.95(b).
Solution: Consider four (a, b, c, and d) nodes are here. a c
b
At node a: 6 A is entering and 2 A is leaving so consider I1 is leaving.
According to KCL at node a, we have: 6 A = I1 + 2 A = 9 A d
 I1 = 6 A − 2 A = 4 A
At node b: I1 = 4 A and 5 A are entering so consider I2 is leaving.
According to KCL at node b, we have: I2 = 4 A + 5 A = 9 A

At node c: I2 = 9 A current is entering and 3 A is leaving so consider I3 is leaving.

According to KCL at node c, we have: 9 A = I3 + 3 A  I3 = 9 A − 3 A = 6 A

At node d: 3 A and 10 A are entering so consider I4 is leaving.

According to KCL at node d, we have: I4 = 3 A + 10 A = 13 A

Practice Book Problem [SECTION 6.5 KCL] and related exercise problems
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 6.4 Power Distribution in a Parallel Circuit
In any electrical system, the power supplied or applied or delivered will equal the power
dissipated or absorbed or consumed.
PE = PR1 + PR 2 + PR3 (6.10)

PE = EI s ( watt, W ) (6.11)

2
V
PR1 = V1I1 = I12 R1 = 1
R1
2
V
PR 2 = V2 I 2 = I 22 R2 = 2 (watt, W) (6.12)
R2

2 V32
PR3 = V3 I 3 = I 3 R3 =
R3
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EXAMPLE 6.15 For the parallel network in
Fig. 6.30:
a. Determine the total resistance RT.
b. Find the source current (Is) and the current
(I1, I2, and I3) through each resistor.
c. Verify KCL.
d. Calculate the power delivered by the source.
e. Determine the power absorbed by each
parallel resistor.
f. Verify Eq. (6.10)
1 1
Solution: (a ) RT = =
1 1 1 1 1 1
+ + + +
R1 R2 R3 1.6 10  20 10  56 103 
3 3

1 1
= −6 −6 −6
= −6
= 1.44 kΩ
625 10 S + 50 10 S + 17.867 10 S 692.867 10 S

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b. Find the source current (Is) and the current (I1, I2, and I3) through each resistor.
RT = 1.44 kΩ
(b) Applying Ohm's Law :
E 28 V
Is = = 3
= 19.4 mA
RT 1.44 10 
RT E 26 V
I1 = Is = = 3
= 17.5 A
R1 R1 1.6 10 
RT E 26 V
I2 = Is = = 3
= 1.4 A
R2 R2 20 10 
R E 26 V
I3 = T I s = = 3
= 0.5 A
R3 R3 56 10 

(c ) According to KCL : I s = I1 + I 2 + I 3
19.4 mA = 17.5 mA + 1.4 mA + 0.5 mA = 19.4 mA
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d. Calculate the power delivered by the source.
e. Determine the power absorbed by each parallel resistor.
f. Verify Eq. (6.10)
Solution: RT = 1.44 kΩ I s = 19.44 mA
I1 = 17.5 A; I 2 = 1.4 A; I 3 = 0.5 A

Practice Book Problem

[SECTION 6.4 Power
Distribution]
and related exercise
problems

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