Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd

Nov 25, 2

Chapter 6

Parallel Circuits
-Objectives-

Identify a parallel resistive circuit

Determine the voltage across each parallel branch
Apply Kirchhoff's current law
Determine total parallel resistance
Apply Ohm's law in a parallel circuit
Determine the total effect of current sources in
parallel
Use a parallel circuit as a current divider
Determine power in a parallel circuit
Describe some basic applications of parallel
circuits
Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd

Chapter 6
Resistors in parallel
Resistorsthatareconnectedtothesametwopoints
aresaidtobeinparallel.
A
R1
B

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd

R2

R3

R4

Chapter 6
Parallel circuits
Aparallelcircuitisidentifiedbythefactthatithas
more than one current path (branch) connected to a
common voltage source.

VS

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd

R1

R2

R3

R4

Chapter 6

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd

Chapter 6
Determine the parallel groupings in Figure 6-5.

How would you connect all of the resistors in Figure 6-5 in parallel?
Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd

Chapter 6
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 voltmeter read if it is placed across each of the resistors?
+ 5 .0 V
+

VS
+ 5 .0 V

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd

+ 5 .0 V
+

R1
680

+ 5 .0 V
+

R2
1 .5 k

+ 5 .0 V
+

R3
2 .2 k

Chapter 6

If R4 is removed from the circuit, what is the voltage across R3?

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd

Chapter 6
Formula for total parallel resistance

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd

Chapter 6

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd

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Chapter 6

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Chapter 6
The Case of Equal-Value Resistors in Parallel

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Chapter 6
Special case for resistance
of two parallel resistors

R1

R2

The resistance of two parallel resistors can be found by

1
R

either: T 1 1

R1 R2

R1 R2
or RT
R1 R2

What is the total resistance if R1 = 27 k and

R2 = 56 k? 18.2 k
Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd

Chapter 6

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Chapter 6
Determining an Unknown Parallel Resistor

Rx = 275

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd

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Chapter 6
Parallel circuit

VS

R1
680

R2
1.5 k

R3
2.2 k

Tabulating current, resistance, voltage and power is a

useful way to summarize parameters in a parallel circuit.
For the circuit above, complete the parameters listed
in the Table.
I1= 7.4 mA
I2= 3.3 mA
I3= 2.3 mA
IT= 13.0 mA

R1= 0.68 k
R2= 1.50 k
R3= 2.20 k
RT= 386

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd

V1= 5.0 V
V2= 5.0 V
V3= 5.0 V
VS= 5.0 V

P1=
P2=
P3=
PT=

36.8 mW
16.7 mW
11.4 mW
64.8 mW

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Chapter 6
Kirchhoffscurrentlaw isgenerallystatedas:
Thesumofthecurrentsenteringanodeisequaltothe
sumofthecurrentsleavingthenode.
Notice in the previous example that the current from
the source is equal to the sum of the branch currents.
I1= 7.4 mA
I2= 3.3 mA
I3= 2.3 mA
IT= 13.0 mA

R1= 0.68 k
R2= 1.50 k
R3= 2.20 k
RT= 386

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd

V1= 5.0 V
V2= 5.0 V
V3= 5.0 V
VS= 5.0 V

P1=
P2=
P3=
PT=

36.8 mW
16.7 mW
11.4 mW
64.8 mW

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Chapter 6
Generalized circuit node illustrating Kirchhoffs current law

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd

Chapter 6

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Chapter 6

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd

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Nov 25, 2

Chapter 6
Application of Ohm's Law

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Chapter 6

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Chapter 6
Parallel current
sources

1.0 mA

1.5 mA

R
2.2 k

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
Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd

Chapter 6
Current Sources in Parallel

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Chapter 6
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.
Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd

Chapter 6

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd

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Chapter 6
Exercise:
Calculate the current IL
IL
18 K

1 mA

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd

9K

2 mA

12 K

4 mA

12 K

Nov 25, 2

Chapter 6
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
Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd

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