Nama/NIM : Agustinus Chandra Prayogo (140534605532)

Wahyu Pradana Pertiwi (140534602787)

Prodi/Offering : S1 Pendidikan Teknik Elektro/D

PARALLEL CIRCUITS

Each parallel path in a circuit is called a branch. Two resistors connected in

parallel are shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

Identifying Parallel Circuits

In Figure 1, it is obvious that the resistors are connected in parallel. However, in

actual circuit diagrams, the parallel relationship often is not as clear. It is important that
you learn to recognize parallel circuits regardless of how they may be drawn. Here some
example of circuits with two parallel paths.

Figure 2

Figure 3
 Figure 4 Figure 5

Figure 6 Figure 7

Voltage In Parallel Circuits

Voltage across each parallel resistor is the same, and each is equal to the source
voltage.

Kirchoffs Current Law

Kirchoffs current law is stated as follows:

The sum of the current into a node (total current in) is equal to the sum of the
currents out of that node (total current out).

Figure 8
 Total Parallel Resistance

When resistors are connected in parallel, the total resistance of the circuit
decreases. The total resistance of a parallel circuit is always less than the value of the
smallest resistor. For example, if a 10 resistor and a 100 resistor are connected in
parallel, the total resistance is less than 10 .

Figure 9

The circuit in Figure 9 shows a general case of n resistors in parallel. From

Kirchoffs current law, the current equation is

IT = I1 + I2 + + In
Since VS is the voltage across each of the parallel resistors, by Ohms law, I 1 =
VS / R1 , I2 = VS / R2 , and so on. By substitution into the current equation,

VS VS VS VS
RT = R1 + R2 ++ Rn

The term VS can be factored out of the right side of the equation and canceled with
VS on the left side, leaving only the reciprocal resistance terms.

VS 1 1 1
RT = VS ( + + +
R 1 R2 Rn )
1 1 1 1
= + ++
RT R1 R2 Rn

The Case of Two Resistors in Parallel

The total resistance of two resistors in parallel is equal to the product of the two
resistors divided by the sum of the two resistors.
 R 1 R2
RT = R1 +R2

The Case of Equal-Value Resistors in Parallel

Another special case of parallel circuits is the parallel connection of several

resistors having the same value. The following is a shortcut method of calculating R T
when this case occurs:

R
RT = n

Current-Divider Formulas for Two Branches

You already know how to use Ohms law to determine the current in any parallel
branch when you know the voltage and resistance. When the voltage is not known but
the total current is, you can find both of the branch currents (I 1 and I2) by using the
following formulas:

R2 R1
I1 = ( ) I
R 1+ R T
2
I2 = ( ) I
R 1+ R T
2

General Current-Divider Formula for Any Number of Parallel Branches

Figure 10

The current in any branch can be determined with the following formula:
 RT
Ix = ( )I
Rx T

Where x = 1, 2, 3, etc. for example, the formula for current in the second branch in
Figure 10 is

RT
I2 = ( )
Rx
I
T

That equation can be used for a parallel circuit with any number of branches.
Notice that you must determine RT in order to use that equation to find a branch current.

Power In Parallel Circuits

Total power in a parallel circuit is found by adding up the powers of all the
individual resistors, the same as you did for series circuits. Here the formula for total
power with any number of resistors in parallel.

PT = P1 + P2 + P3 + + Pn

Where PT is the total power and Pn is the power in the last resistor in parallel. As
we can see, the power losses are additive, just as in the series circuit.

PT = VS IT

PT = I2T RT

V 2S
PT = RT

Where VS is the voltage across the parallel circuit, IT is the total current into the
parallel circuit, and RT is the total resistance of the parallel circuit.