BASIC ELECTRONICS - OD1633 - LESSON 1/TASK 2
Computing the individual currents shows that there is one-half of an ampere
of current through each resistance.
The total current flowing from the
battery to the junction of the resistors, and returning from the resistors
to the battery, is equal to 1 ampere.
The total resistance of the circuit can be calculated using the values of
total voltage (ET) and total current (IT).
Given:
ET = 5 volts
IT = 1 amp
This computation shows the total resistance to be 5 Ohms; one-half the value
of either of the two resistors.
Since the total resistance of a parallel circuit is smaller than any of the
individual resistors, total resistance of a parallel circuit is not the sum
of the individual resistor values, as was the case in a series circuit. The
total resistance of resistors in parallel is also referred to as equivalent
resistance (Req). The terms total resistance and equivalent resistance are
used interchangeably.
There are several methods used to determine the equivalent resistance of
The best method for a given circuit depends on the
number and value of the resistors. For the circuit described above, where
all resistors have the same value, the following simple equation is used:
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