Difference between revisions of "Parallel Circuits"

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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.
 
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.
  
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
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<div id="parallel-current"></div><div id="parallel-voltage"></div><div id="parallel-resistance"></div>
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! Parallel Circuits
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[[File:Parallel Circuits.png|440px|class=img-fluid|alt=Parallel Circuits from the Physics Reference Tables (2025 Edition)]]
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|- id="parallel-current"
 
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| style="padding:8px 16px;" | ''I'' = ''I''<sub>1</sub> + ''I''<sub>2</sub> + ''I''<sub>3</sub> + …
 
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|- id="parallel-voltage"
 
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| style="padding:8px 16px;" | ''V'' = ''V''<sub>1</sub> = ''V''<sub>2</sub> = ''V''<sub>3</sub> = …
 
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|- id="parallel-resistance"
 
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| style="padding:8px 16px;" | <span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;line-height:1.25;"><span style="display:block;border-bottom:1px solid currentColor;padding:0 3px;">1</span><span style="display:block;padding:0 3px;">''R''<sub>eq</sub></span></span> = <span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;line-height:1.25;"><span style="display:block;border-bottom:1px solid currentColor;padding:0 3px;">1</span><span style="display:block;padding:0 3px;">''R''<sub>1</sub></span></span> + <span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;line-height:1.25;"><span style="display:block;border-bottom:1px solid currentColor;padding:0 3px;">1</span><span style="display:block;padding:0 3px;">''R''<sub>2</sub></span></span> + <span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;line-height:1.25;"><span style="display:block;border-bottom:1px solid currentColor;padding:0 3px;">1</span><span style="display:block;padding:0 3px;">''R''<sub>3</sub></span></span> + …
 
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|}
 
  
 
== What the parallel circuits box shows ==
 
== 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 [[Electricity#ohm|''V'' = ''IR'']] these rules give the current in each branch.
 
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 [[Electricity#ohm|''V'' = ''IR'']] these rules give the current in each branch.
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== Rows ==
 
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Each row of the table has an anchor, so a link or an <code><nowiki>{{Rt}}</nowiki></code> chip ([[Template:Rt]]) can point at one equation or constant:
 
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* <code>parallel-current</code> – ''I'' = ''I''<sub>1</sub> + ''I''<sub>2</sub> + …
 
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* <code>parallel-voltage</code> – ''V'' = ''V''<sub>1</sub> = ''V''<sub>2</sub> = …
 
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* <code>parallel-resistance</code> – 1/''R''<sub>eq</sub> = 1/''R''<sub>1</sub> + 1/''R''<sub>2</sub> + …
 
  
 
== Regents Exam Questions ==
 
== 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.
 
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.
  
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<div style="overflow-x:auto;">
 
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align:center"
 
! style="padding: 0.5em 1.5em;" | Exam
 
! style="padding: 0.5em 1.5em;" | Exam
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| style="background-color:white;" | [[HS-PS3-6]]
 
| style="background-color:white;" | [[HS-PS3-6]]
 
|}
 
|}
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</div>

Latest revision as of 17:52, 25 October 2026

⇱ All Physics Reference Tables (2025 Edition)
← Series Circuits

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.

Parallel Circuits from the Physics Reference Tables (2025 Edition)

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.