DC Parallel Circuit

Comparison of parallel and series circuits with the same resistors and the same battery voltage applied.


If battery voltage VB = V
is applied to resistors R1 = Ω and R2 = Ω ,

Parallel

The equivalent resistance is

Requivalent = Ω

and the total current is I = A.

For the parallel circuit the entire battery voltage is applied to each resistor. The current branches, and the currents are calculated from Ohm's law:

I1 = A, I2 = A.

Series

The equivalent resistance is

Requivalent = Ω

and the total current is I = A.

For the series circuit the entire current flows through each resistor. The voltages is divided, and the voltage drops across each resistor are calculated from Ohm's law:

V1 = V, V2 = V.
DC circuit examplesResistor combinations
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