Module 19: Electric Current and circuits

Lesson 3: SIMPLE CIRCUITS

 16-01-2024LO1:
 Define parallel Circuit.

 LO2: Calculate equivalent resistance for resistor in

parallel circuit.

 LO3: Calculate current in parallel circuit and

potential difference across electrical device
connected in parallel.
Revision of current and voltage in
series circuits

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1a629-Ryjc&t=96s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1a629-Ryjc&t=96s
 LO1: Define parallel Circuit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1a629-Ryjc&t=96s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1a629-Ryjc&t=96s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1a629-Ryjc&t=96s
 Questions on parallel circuit
Which statement is correct , A or B
In a parallel circuit, current A a single path.
follows . . .
1
B more than one path.

In a parallel circuit, the current A the sum of the currents through each of the
through the source is . . . branches.
2
B Same as through any of the branches.

In a parallel circuit, the potential A The sum of the potential differences across
difference across the source is . . . all resistors in parallel.
3
B Equal to the potential difference across any
of the branches.
LO2: Calculate equivalent resistance for more than two resistors in
parallel circuit.

+ + +. .

[ ]
−1
1 1 1
R= + + +. .
R1 R2 R 3
LO2: Calculate equivalent resistance for more than two resistors in
parallel circuit.
+ + +. .

[ ]
−1
1 1 1
R= + +
10 R2 R3

[ ]
R1=10  R2=15  R3=6  −
1 1 1
R= + +
10 15 R3

[ ]
−1
1 1 1
R= + +
10 15 6
3
Example: calculate the equivalent resistance.
.
 LO3: Calculate current in parallel circuit.
The current through a resistor is
I I2 + I3 I3
The potential difference across each
resistor is 30 V
The current through R1=10 
I1 I2 I3 resistor is =

The current through R2=15 

R2=15 
V= 30 V

R1=10 

R3=6 
resistor is =
The current through R3=6  resistor
is =
The current through the battery is
I=I1 + I2 + I3 I2 + I3 I3 the sum of the currents through the
three paths.
I=I1 + I2 + I3 = 3A + 2A + 5A = 10 A
 LO3: Calculate potential difference across resistors in parallel circuits.
The potential difference across each
I I2 + I3 I3 resistor connected in parallel is same
and is equal to the source voltage. In
this case is 30 V
The potential difference across a
I3 =5A resistor is V= I  R
I1 =3A I2 =2A
The potential difference across
R1=10  resistor is

R2=15 
V= 30 V

R1=10 

R3=6 
V= I1  R1 = 3  10 =30 V
The potential difference across
R2=15  resistor is
V= I2  R2 = 2  15 =30 V
The potential difference across
R3=6  resistor is
I=I1 + I2 + I3 I2 + I3 I3 V= I3  R3 = 5  6 =30 V

V= I  R = I1  R1 = I2  R2 = I3  R3
Activity 1
• To measure how current splits in a parallel circuit.

• Use the activity 1 worksheet to make measurement on a parallel circuit using

the PHET simulator.
circuit-construction-kit-dc-virtual-lab_en.html
 Activity 1

• Calculate the current through the source and the current down each
branch and compare to your measured results in table 1.

circuit-construction-kit-dc-virtual-lab_en.html
Practice:
Parallel connections: If there is a break the
other devices are not affected.
Compare series and parallel connections
Ammeter: Enrichment
Voltmeter: Measures Voltage (enrichment)