Parallel Circuits

This presentation is designed to give

you a broad sense of parallel circuits

Learning Objectives- Upon

completion of this lesson

Students will know what a parallel circuit

looks like
Students will know the relationships of
voltage, current and resistance in a parallel
circuit
Students will know how to compute the
missing variable given the other two in
regards to a parallel circuit

Definition

A circuit with multiple paths from the

source through the various resistors in the
circuit

Parallel Circuit

Parallel Circuit

R=Resistance

1/Rt = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3

Rt = R1 x R2 / R1 + R2
Rt = R (value)/ number of resistors
The reciprocal of the total resistance is the
sum of the reciprocals of the individual
resistances

R=Resistance

1/Rt = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3

1/Rt = 1/8 + 1/12 + 1/24
1/ Rt = .125 + .0833 + .04167
1/Rt = .25
Rt = 1/ .25
Rt = 4

V=Voltage

Vt = V1 = V2 = V3
V1 = 120V
V2 = 120V
V3 = 120V
Voltage in a parallel circuit is constant
throughout the circuit

I=Current

It = I1 + I2 + I3
I1 = V1 / Rt
It = 120V / 4
It= 30 Amps
The total current of a circuit is calculated
adding the total individual currents
The total resistance is calculated using total
voltage and total resistance

I=Current

It = I1 + I2 + I3
I1 = V1 / R1
120V / 8
I1 = 15 Amps

I2 = V2 / R2
120V / 12
I1 = 10 Amps

I3 = V3 / R3
120V / 24
I3 = 5 Amps

I=Current

It = I1 + I2 + I3
I1 = 15 Amps
I2 = 10 Amps
I3 = 5 Amps
It = 15 Amps + 10 Amps + 5 Amps
It = 30 Amps

Parallel Circuit Recap

Electricity takes separate paths through the

resistors and back to the source
If a resistor is broken then that particular
section of circuit will not work. The
remaining paths will still function

Parallel Circuit Recap

1/Rt = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3

Rt = R1 x R2 / R1 + R2 (with only 2)
Rt = R (value)/ number of resistors (when
all resistor values are the same)
Vt = V1 = V2 = V3
It = I1 + I2 + I3

Practice:
Complete the table with a partner

Vt
100 V

V1

V2

V3

Rt

R1
15

R2
10

R3
5

It

I1

I2

I3

Practice:
Complete the table with a partner

Vt
50 V

V1

V2

Rt

R1
20

R2
10

It

I1

I2

Practice:
Complete the table with a partner

Vt

V1

V2

V3

Rt

R1
8

R2
8

R3
8

It
2.5
Amps

I1

I2

I3

Follow up activity

Be sure to check the discussion board for

the follow up activity