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Parallel circuit
Many paths for electricity
1 light goes out and the
others stay on
Resistances in Series
Resistors are said to be connected in series
when there is a single path for the current.
The current I is the same for
R1 each resistor R1, R2 and R3.
I R2
VT R3 The energy gained through E
is lost through R1, R2 and R3.
Only one current
The same is true for voltages:
For series I = I1 = I2 = I3
connections: VT = V1 + V2 + V3
Equivalent Resistance: Series
The equivalent resistance Re of a number of
resistors connected in series is equal to the sum
of the individual resistances.
VT = V1 + V2 + V3 ; (V = IR)
R1 ITRe = I1R1+ I2R2 + I3R3
I R2
VT R3 But . . . IT = I1 = I2 = I3
Equivalent Resistance Re = R1 + R2 + R3
Example 1: Find the equivalent resistance Re. What
is the current I in the circuit?
2W
3W 1W
12 V
Example 1 (Cont.): Show that the voltage drops
across the three resistors totals the 12-V emf.
2W
3W 1W
12 V
Sources of EMF in Series
The output direction from a - + b
a
source of emf is from + side: E
Thus, from a to b the potential increases by E;
From b to a, the potential decreases by E.
A
Example: Find DV for path AB -
and then for path BA. R
9V
AB: DV = +9 V 3 V = +6 V 3V
+
- +
BA: DV = +3 V - 9 V = -6 V B
A Single Complete Circuit
Consider the simple series circuit drawn below:
D A Path ABCD: Energy and V
2W -
increase through the 15-V
4W 15 V source and decrease
3V through the 3-V source.
+
- +
C B E= 15 V - 3 V = 12 V
2W -
3W 18 V
3V
+
- +
C B
Summary: Single Loop Circuits:
R2
Resistance Rule: Re = R
E E2
Current : I R1
R E1
Voltage Rule: E = IR
Complex Circuits
A complex circuit is one
containing more than a
I3
single loop and different
current paths. R3 E2
R1
At junctions m and n: m n
I1 = I2 + I3 or I2 + I3 = I1 I1
R2 E1
Junction Rule:
I2
I (enter) = I (leaving)
Parallel Connections
Resistors are said to be connected in parallel
when there is more than one path for current.
For Parallel Resistors:
Parallel Connection:
V2 = V4 = V6 = VT
2W 4W 6W
I2 + I 4 + I 6 = I T
2W 4W 6W
Example 3 (Cont.): Assume a 12-V emf is connected to
the circuit as shown. What is the total current leaving the
source of emf?
VT R1 R2 R3
2W 4W 6W
12 V
Example 3 (Cont.): Show that the current leaving the source IT is
the sum of the currents through the resistors R1, R2, and R3.
VT R1 R2 R3
2W 4W 6W
12 V
Short Cut: Two Parallel Resistors
The equivalent resistance Re for two parallel
resistors is the product divided by the sum.
1 1 1 R1 R2
; Re
Re R1 R2 R1 R2
Example: (3 W)(6 W)
VT R1 R2 Re
3W 6 W
6W 3W
Re = 2 W
Series and Parallel Combinations
In complex circuits resistors are often connected
in both series and parallel.
R1
In such cases, its best
to use rules for series VT R2 R3
and parallel resistances
to reduce the circuit to
a simple circuit
containing one source
VT Re
of emf and one
equivalent resistance.
Example 4. Find the equivalent resistance for the
circuit drawn below (assume VT = 12 V).
4W (3 W)(6 W)
R3,6 2W
3W 6 W
VT 3W 6W
Re = 4 W + 2 W
Re = 6 W
4W
12 V 2W 12 V 6W
Example 3 (Cont.) Find the total current IT.
Re = 6 W
4W
VT 12 V
VT 3W 6W I
Re 6 W
IT = 2.00 A
4W
IT
12 V 2W 12 V 6W
Example 3 (Cont.) Find the currents and the
voltages across each resistor.
4W I4 = I T = 2 A
VT 3W 6W V4 = (2 A)(4 W) = 8 V
(Continued . . .)
Example 3 (Cont.) Find the currents and voltages
across each resistor.
V4 = 8 V V6 = V3 = 4 V 4W
V3 4 V VT 3W 6W
I3 I3 = 1.33 A
R3 3 W
I6
V6 4 V
I6 = 0.667 A I4 = 2 A
R6 6 W
Note that the junction rule is satisfied:
I (enter) = I (leaving) IT = I4 = I3 + I6
Exercises:
1. A battery supplies 6 A to a series combination of a
10 resistor and an unknown resistance. When a
4 resistor is connected in parallel across the
unknown resistance, the total current increases to
8 A. Calculate the voltage supplied by the source
and the value of the unknown resistance
Exercises:
2. Three resistors R1, R2 and R3 are connected in
series-parallel with R1 in series with the parallel
combination of R2 and R3. The whole combination
is connected across a 120 V DC source. Resistors
R1, R2 and R3 take 750 W, 250 W and 200 W
respectively. Calculate the resistance R2.
Exercises:
3. For the given circuit with RT = 2 and I1 = I2. Find
R1 and R2.
3 R1
I2
3
12V
2 I1 2 R2
Exercises:
4. Refer to the circuit below, solve for RT
and V across 25 .
30 40 50
5
10V
10 15 55
25 45
5V 65 70
20
35
60
20V
Kirchoffs Laws for DC Circuits
Kirchoffs first law: The sum of the currents
entering a junction is equal to the sum of the
currents leaving that junction.
Voltage Rule: E = IR
Sign Conventions for Emfs
When applying Kirchoffs laws you must
assume a consistent, positive tracing direction.
When applying the voltage rule, emfs are
positive if normal output direction of the emf is
with the assumed tracing direction.
E1 + E2 = I1R1 + I2R2
I2
E2 + E3 = I2R2 + I3R3 R3 Loop II E3
I3
E3 - E1 = -I1R1 + I3R3
+
Example 4. Use Kirchoffs laws to find the currents in
the circuit drawn to the right.
Junction Rule: I2 + I3 = I1 +
Simplifying: Divide by 2 I2
and V/W = A, gives Loop II 20 W
I3
10I3 - 5I2 = 3 A +
6V
Example 5 (Cont.) Three independent equations can
be solved for I1, I2, and I3.
(1) I2 + I3 = I1
I1 I3
100k I2 300k
20V 7V
300k
Exercises:
2. Determine I1 and I2.
I1
6 12
I2 I3
12V 6A 4
3
Summary of Formulas:
Rules for a simple, single loop circuit
containing a source of emf and resistors.
Single Loop
Resistance Rule: Re = R D A
-
E 2W
Current : I 3W
18 V
R
3V
+
- +
Voltage Rule: E = IR C B
Summary (Cont.)
For resistors connected in series:
For series I = I1 = I2 = I3
connections: VT = V1 + V2 + V3
Re = R1 + R2 + R3 2W
3W 1W
12 V
Re = R
Summary (Cont.)
Resistors connected in parallel:
For parallel V = V1 = V2 = V3
connections: IT = I1 + I2 + I3
N
1 1
Parallel Connection
Re i 1 Ri VT R1 R2 R3
2W 4W 6W
R1 R2
Re 12 V
R1 R2
Summary Kirchoffs Laws
Kirchoffs first law: The sum of the currents
entering a junction is equal to the sum of the
currents leaving that junction.
Voltage Rule: E = IR
Reference
A PowerPoint Presentation by
Paul E. Tippens, Professor of Physics
Southern Polytechnic State University
2007