Chapter 6
Principles of Electric Circuits, Conventional Flow, 9th ed. © 2010 Pearson Higher Education,
Floyd Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. • All Rights Reserved
Resistors in parallel
Resistors that are connected to the same two points
are said to be in parallel.
A
R1 R2 R3 R4
B
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
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
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 W 1.5 kW 2.2 kW
Parallel circuit VS
+ R1 R2 R3
680 W 1.5 kW 2.2 kW
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
Kirchhoff’s current law 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
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
Parallel current 1.0 mA 1.5 mA R
sources 2.2 kW
Current sources in parallel can be combined algebraically
into a single equivalent source.
The two current sources shown are aiding, so the
net current in the resistor is their sum (2.5 mA).
(a) What is the current in R if the 1.5 mA source is
reversed? 0.5 mA
(b) Which end of R will be positive? The bottom
Current divider
When current enters a junction it divides with current
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.
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
Key Terms
Branch One current path in a parallel circuit.
Current divider A parallel circuit in which the currents divide
inversely proportional to the parallel branch
resistances.
Junction A point at which two or more components are
connected. Also known as a node.
Kirchhoff’s A law stating the total current into a junction
current law equals the total current out of the junction.
Parallel The relationship in electric circuits in which
two or more current paths are connected
between two separate points (nodes).
Quiz
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
Quiz
2. The number of nodes in a parallel circuit is
a. one
b. two
c. three
d. can be any number
Quiz
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 kW 10 kW 5.1 kW
d. 25.1 k
Quiz
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. there is not enough information to say
Quiz
5. In any circuit the total current entering a junction is
a. less than the total current leaving the junction
b. equal to the total current leaving the junction
c. greater than the total current leaving the junction
d. can be any of the above, depending on the
circuit
Quiz
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 R IT
T
R2
c. 1 R R I T
I
1 2
R1
d. I1 R1 R2 I T
Quiz
7. The total current leaving the source is
a. 1.0 mA
b. 1.2 mA VS + R1 R2
12 V 10 kW 2.0 kW
c. 6.0 mA
d. 7.2 mA
Quiz
8. The current in R1 is
a. 6.7 mA
b. 13.3 mA R1 R2
I = 20 mA 100 W 200 W
c. 20 mA
d. 26.7 mA
Quiz
9. The voltage across R2 is
a. 0 V
b. 0.67 V R1 R2
I = 20 mA 100 W 200 W
c. 1.33 V
d. 4.0 V
Quiz
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
Quiz
Answers:
1. d 6. c
2. b 7. d
3. a 8. b
4. a 9. c
5. b 10. d