2.3.4

Parallel Circuits

Test yourself

Parallel Circuits

In a parallel circuit, components are connected on separate branches of wires to the energy source.

Parallel circuits

  • Circuit components in parallel look like they have their own extra mini-circuit.
  • The current through the battery is larger than the current through each of the individual branches.

Parallel circuits

  • When the current flowing through the battery point A, where the wires split, the current is split between the two branches.

Current in Parallel Circuits

In a parallel circuit, the current through the energy source is equal to the sum of (adding up all of) the currents in the separate branches.

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Water pipes

  • Imagine water flowing through a pipe that splits into two.
  • The amount of water flowing in the two pipes must add up to the amount of water in the single pipe, as no water leaks out or disappears.

Jump to other topics

1Energy

2Electricity

3Particle Model of Matter

4Atoms & Radiation

5Forces

6Waves

7Magnetism

8Astrophysics

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