Basic Electronics

LINEAR NETWORK ANALYSIS

Q.3 What is Parallel Circuit? Derive Formula for equivalent resistance. Deduce Proportional
Current formula.
(a) What is Parallel Circuit?
“The type of circuit in which Current has more than one path to flow is called Parallel Circuit.”
Explanation:
Here is an example of three resistors connected in Parallel with a high voltage battery.
Diagram:

The amount of Voltage ‘V’ is same throughout the circuit and has three paths to flow. As current is
dropped across each resistor. So;
Sum of these three Current must be equal to applied Current:
V= V1 = V2 = V3
I= I1 + I2 + I3
(b) Formula for Equivalent Resistance:

According to OHM’s Law V = IR

So, V1 = I1 R1 V2 = I2 R2 & V3 = I3 R3

As Voltage is same throughout the circuit so;

V = V1 = V2 = V3 so we can say
V=IR V = I1 R1 , V = I2 R2 & V = I3 R3
𝑽 𝑽 𝑽 𝑽
I= I1 = I2= I3= (Rearranging)
𝑹 𝑹𝟏 𝑹𝟐 𝑹𝟑
As we all know;
I = I1 + I2 + I3 Put values of I, I1 , I2, I3,
𝑽 𝑽 𝑽 𝑽
= + + (Taking Common ‘V’ from both sides)
𝑹 𝑹𝟏 𝑹𝟐 𝑹𝟑
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
We now have; V ( ) =V( + + ) (Cancel ‘V’ on both sides)
𝑹 𝑹𝟏 𝑹𝟐 𝑹𝟑
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
Finally we have; = + +
𝑹 𝑹𝟏 𝑹𝟐 𝑹𝟑

Now if we consider only R1 & R2

𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝑹𝟏+𝑹𝟐 𝑹𝟏𝑹𝟐
= + = R= Equivalent resistance formula
𝑹 𝑹𝟏 𝑹𝟐 𝑹 𝑹𝟏𝑹𝟐 𝑹𝟏+𝑹𝟐

Composed By: Umair Javed Notes.Corner2019@gmail.com | 1

 Basic Electronics
LINEAR NETWORK ANALYSIS
(c) Formula for Proportional Current in Parallel Circuit:

As we all know that Current drops across each resistor so we already configured the equivalent Current.

As we know that:

V= IR V1 = I1 R1 also V=V1 so we can write as;

IR = I1R1 Put Value of R (Equivalent Resistance)
𝑹𝟏𝑹𝟐
I [𝑹𝟏+𝑹𝟐 ] = I1 R1
By Re-Arranging
𝑰
𝑹𝟏𝑹𝟐
[
𝑹𝟏 𝑹𝟏+𝑹𝟐
] = I1
𝑹𝟐
I1 = I[ ] And Same for I2
𝑹𝟏+𝑹𝟐
𝑹𝟏
I2 = I[ ] And So on.
𝑹𝟏+𝑹𝟐

These equations are called Proportional Current Formula for Parallel circuit.

Characteristics of Parallel Circuit

 Sum of all Currents is equal to equivalent resistance.
 Voltage is same through all resistors.
 Sum of Current drop across each resistor is equal to applied Current.
 The Equivalent Resistance formula for parallel circuit is:
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= + +
𝑹 𝑹𝟏 𝑹𝟐 𝑹𝟑

 If one Connection from circuit is broken, current will continue to flow.

Composed By: Umair Javed Notes.Corner2019@gmail.com | 2