Parallel Circuits

Laws of Parallel Circuits

Voltage Law:

• total Voltage in a parallel circuit is equally applied to each branch of the parallel circuit
• ET = ER1 = ER2 = ER3

Current Law:

• total current in parallel circuit is equal to the sum of the current in each branch of the circuit
• IT  = IR1  + IR2 + IR3

Resistance Law:

• total resistance in a parallel circuit is equal to the sum of the current in each branch of the circuit
• 1  =  1 + 1 + 1
• RT     R1   R2  R3

• Note: total resistance in a parallel circuit is always less than the resistance of any one branch