Dictionary
Parallel Circuit
A circuit in which the identical voltage is presented to all components, with current dividing among the components according to the resistances or the impedances of the components.
A parallel circuit is a circuit that has more than one path through which the electrons may flow. The following rules apply:
1. The total current in a parallel circuit is equal to the sum of the currents in all the branches of the circuit.
2. The total voltage across any branch in parallel is equal to the voltage across any other branch and is also equal to the total voltage.
3. The total resistance of a parallel circuit is found by applying Ohm's Law to the total values of the circuit.
Note: In a parallel circuit, the total resistance is always less than the resistance of any branch. If the branches of a parallel circuit have the same resistance, then each will draw the same current. If the branches of a parallel circuit have different resistances, then each will draw a different current. In either series or parallel circuits, the larger the resistance, the smaller the current drawn.