Parallel Circuits · Physics Reference Tables (2025 Edition)

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The Parallel Circuits box from the Reference Tables for Physical Science: Physics (2025 Edition) gives the three rules for components connected in parallel. It primarily supports HS-PS3-6, together with the Electricity equations and the Series Circuits box.

What the parallel circuits box shows

In a parallel circuit each branch is connected directly across the source, so every branch has the same potential difference; the current from the source splits among the branches, so the branch currents add up to the total; and the reciprocals of the resistances add, so the equivalent resistance is smaller than the smallest branch resistance, and adding a branch raises the total current. With V = IR these rules give the current in each branch.

Regents Exam Questions

Released Regents questions that cannot be answered without this table, listed by exam. Each link opens the question with its answer key; the standard is the one the question assesses.

Exam	Cluster	Question	Standard
June 2026 Physics Regents	Flashlight Physics	Question 33	HS-PS3-6