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Chapter 8 – Parallel Circuits Parallel Circuits
• Have 2 or more paths of resistance
• Compare to two bridges running along side each
other in the same direction (parallel)
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1 2
Parallel Circuits Equal Resistors in Parallel
• When resistors are connected in parallel, total • Resistance decreases because more paths are
resistance decreases because more paths are provided for the flow of electricity (current)
provided for the flow of electricity (current) • The parallel combination of resistance units
• Compare to several people holding on to a rope offers less resistance to current than either
on each side of them single resistor
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3 4
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2 Unequal Resistors in Parallel
𝑅 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
𝑅 = • There is not an equal division of currents
𝑁 𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠
flowing in each branch
• The greater amount of current will flow through
the branch with less resistance
• Calculated using the product over the sum
method 𝑅 =
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5 6
Two or More Resistors in Parallel Two or More Resistors in Parallel
• Total resistance in any parallel circuit is always 𝑅 =
less than the value of any single resistor in the
circuit
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Why is the total resistance of a parallel Voltage Drops in Parallel Circuits
circuit less than the smallest resistor?
• The voltage drops across all branches or paths of
a parallel circuit is the same (equal)
This relationship results in a total • 𝐸 = 𝐸 =𝐸
resistance that is less than the • Kirchhoff’s voltage law is still true
smallest of the individual resistances. • States that the voltage drops in a circuit
When resistors are connected must equal the source voltage
in parallel, more current flows from the
source than would flow for any of them
individually, so the total resistance is
lower.
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2 Unequal Resistors in Parallel
• The sum of the branch circuits is the same as Current in a Parallel Circuit
the total current flowing in the circuit
• This again confirms Kirchhoff’s current law • Total current in a parallel circuit is determined
• States that all current that flows into a by the total current in each branch circuit
junction will flow out of it • Total current is equal to the sum of all the
currents
• 𝐼 = 𝐼 +𝐼
• Kirchhoff’s current law is still true
• States that all current that flows into a
junction will flow out of it
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Conductance Applications
• The ability to conduct electricity • Series Circuits
• Reciprocal of resistance • Christmas tree lights
• Letter symbol is G
• Measured in Siemens (S) • Parallel Circuits
• Conductance is 1 divided by resistance • Christmas tree lights
• 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 = (G = ) • Receptacles
• Wire is rated by:
• Resistance to the flow of electrons
• Ability to conduct electrons
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Receptacle wiring (Duplex outlet) Receptacle wiring (Duplex outlet)
Made up of 3 conductors
• Hot, neutral, & ground • Neutral wire
• Protected with white insulation
• Hot wire • Completes the circuit to the device plugged
• Protected with black (sometimes red) in
insulation • Connected to the silver colored terminal
• Provides the source of electrical energy • Connects to the longer slot
• Connected to the brass colored terminal
• Connects to the shorter slot
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Receptacle Wiring (Duplex outlet)
Receptacle wiring (Duplex outlet)
• Ground wire
120 VAC
• Protected with green or no insulation
Neutral wire
• Conducts electrical current away from a fault connected to Hot wire
or short circuit silver terminal connected to
• Connected to the green colored terminal (longer slot) brass terminal
(shorter slot)
• Connects to the small round opening
• Provides a low resistance connection from
the hot wire to ground
• In this way, an excessive amount of
current flows
• Enough so that a fuse will blow or a
breaker will trip
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Receptacle wiring (Duplex outlet) Questions?
• The more devices that you plug in, the more the
current increases
• When current increases, & with the voltage at a
fixed value (120 volts), the wattage consumed
increases
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