Basic Electronics II
Basic Electronics II
R1 = 2Ω R2 = 4Ω
Voltage is equal across
parallel branches
Since components are directly connected across
the voltage source, they must have the same
potential as the source.
Therefore, the voltage is the same across
components connected in parallel.
Components requiring the same voltage would
be connected in parallel.
Each branch I = E / R
I1 = E / R 1
I2 = E / R2 and so on.
If individual resistances are the same, then
individual branch currents would also be
the same.
Main-line IT = sum of branch
currents
IT = I1 + I2 + ...+ etc
Resistances in parallel
Total resistance across the main line can
be found by Ohm’s Law: Divide the
common voltage by the total current.
RT = E / I T
RT is always less than the smallest
individual branch resistance
Reciprocal resistance
formulae
1 / RT = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 + ... etc
This formulae works for any number of
parallel resistances of any value
If the values of R are the
same
If all resistors in parallel are the same
value, then use this shortcut:
The value of one resistor/total number of
resistors = Total resistance
If the there are only 2
resistors of differing values
If there are only two resistors in parallel
and they are different in value, then use
this shortcut:
R1 x R2/R1 + R2 = Total resistance
Finding an unknown R
In able to find what value Rx must be
added in parallel with a known R to get a
required Rt
R x RT/R - RT = Rx
Power in parallel circuits