Parallel circuits
In parallel circuits, electrical A device in an electric circuit, such as a switch or lamp. are connected alongside one another, forming extra loops.
Circuit rules
An Subatomic particle, with a negative charge and a negligible mass relative to protons and neutrons. will not pass through every component on its way round the circuit. If one of the bulbs is broken then Moving electric charges, eg electrons moving through a metal wire. will still pass round the circuit through the other loop. If one bulb goes out, the other will stay on.
Current in parallel
Since there are different loops, the current will split as it leaves the cell and pass through one or other of the loops. If one loop has less resistance than the other, there will be more current in the loop with the lower resistance. An A device used to measure electric current. placed in different parts of the circuit will show how the current splits:
\(I_{1} = I_{2} + I_{4} = I_{3}\)
This is when:
current (I) is measured in amps (A)
If the resistance of any component in a parallel circuit changes, this will change the value of the current in that loop and the total current supplied by the battery. It does not affect the current in the other loop.
Potential difference in parallel
Since The capacity for doing work. has to be conserved, the energy transferred around the circuit by the electrons is the same whichever path the electrons follow. Since The potential difference (or voltage) of a supply is a measure of the energy given to the charge carriers in a circuit. Units = volts (V). This is the voltage between two points that makes an electric current flow between them. is used to measure changes in energy, the potential difference supplied is equal to the potential differences across each of the parallel components:
\(V_{s} = V_{1} = V_{2}\)
This is when:
potential difference (V) is measured in volts (V)
If the resistance of any component in a parallel circuit changes, this will have no effect on the potential difference across any of the components.