Chapter 5:

PARALLEL CIRCUIT

Prepared By: Lindasalwa Binti Muda

Learning Outcome
In this topic you should able to:
1. Identify a parallel circuit.
2. Determine the voltage across a
parallel circuit.
3. Determine total resistance in
parallel circuit.
Identifying Parallel Circuit
Parallel circuit is a closed circuit in
which the current divides into two or
more paths before recombining to
complete the circuit.

Each current path is called a branch.

A parallel circuit have more than one

branch.
Cont.

Two elements, branches, or circuits are

in parallel if they have two points in
common as in the figure 5.1

Figure 5.1
Figure 5.1
Example 5.1: Parallel or Series?

(a) (b)
(c)

Figure 5.2
(e) (d)
Voltage in Parallel Circuit
Voltage is the same in all parts of
the circuit.

Figure 5.3
Total Resistance, 𝑅𝑇 in Parallel
Circuit
For resistors in parallel, the total
resistance is determined from

Figure 5.4 Equation 5.1

 Cont.
For only two resistors connected in
parallel, the equivalent resistance may
be found by the product of the two
values divided by the sum of the two
values
R1 R2
RT 
R1  R2

The total resistance of parallel resistors is

always less than the value of the smallest resistor.
 NOTATION FOR PARALLEL RESISTOR

1 1 1 1 1
= + + + RT = R1 || R2 || R3 || R4
𝑅𝑇 𝑅1 𝑅2 𝑅3 𝑅4

1 1 1 1 1
= + + +
𝑅𝑇 10 Ω 230 Ω 30Ω 55Ω

RT = 10 Ω || 230 Ω || 30 Ω || 55 Ω
Example 2: Calculate the total
resistance for figure 5.5 below.

Figure 5.5
Example 3: Determine the total
resistance.

Figure 5.6
 KIRCHOFF’S CURRENT LAW

The sum of current into a = The sum of the current out (total
junction (total current in) current out)

Note A, IN : IT = I1 + I2 + I3
Note B, OUT : IT = I1 + I2 + I3
 CURRENT SOURCE IN PARALLEL

Total current produce by

current source in parallel = The algebraic sum of the
individual current source

If the current direction is same, ADD current

If the current direction is opposite, MINUS current

1A 1A

1A 1A
Example 4 : Write down the equation relating the
current flow, I at the shown junction point in Figure
below.
Example 5: If there are a total of 120 mA into
a parallel circuit consisting of three branches,
and two of the branch currents are 40 mA
and 10 mA, what is the third branch current?
 CURRENT DIVIDERS

GENERAL CURRENT DIVIDER FORMULA

 EXAMPLE

Solution:
 CURRENT DIVIDERS

The current in one

of the branch = The opposite branch resistance
divided by the sum of the two
resistors, all multiplied by the total
current
EXAMPLE
 EXERCISE

680Ω
𝐼1 = 10 mA
330Ω+680Ω
𝐼1 = 6.733 mA
330Ω
𝐼2 = 10 mA
330Ω+680Ω
𝐼2 = 3.267 mA

𝐼𝑎 220Ω
470Ω
𝐼𝑎 = 4 mA
220Ω+235Ω
𝐼3 = 𝐼2 1.934
𝐼3 mA
470Ω+470Ω 𝐼𝑎 = 1.934 mA
𝐼3 = 967 µA

𝑅23 = 𝑅2 // 𝑅3 = 235 Ω
 POWER IN PARALLEL CIRCUITS

The powers are additive, just as in series circuit

The following formula formulas are used to

calculate the total power, PT
 EXAMPLE

Solution 1:
1.mA,
Given IT = 200 Find RT

2.
Solution 2: 1.
2.
3.
 TROUBLESHOOTING
OPEN BRANCHES
 EXAMPLE

= 31.09 mA
Conclusion

Table 1: Summary for voltage and Resistance

Cont.
• Series circuit
– All in a row
– 1 path for electricity
– 1 light goes out and
the circuit is broken

Parallel circuit
- Many paths for electricity
- light goes out and the
others stay on
THANK YOU
SEE YOU NEXT LESSON! 