Sarah Asks: How Does Adding Resistors in Parallel Affect Circuit Current?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Skipperchrldr
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Circuits Parallel
AI Thread Summary
Adding resistors in parallel decreases the total circuit resistance, leading to an increase in total circuit current. Each parallel resistor creates an additional pathway for current, allowing more current to flow through the circuit. This relationship is fundamental in circuit design and analysis. Understanding this principle is crucial for effectively managing circuit performance. The overall effect is a higher current with reduced resistance when resistors are added in parallel.
Skipperchrldr
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
Hey!
I had to do 3 labs tonight and I got stuck on one of the last questions! I was wondering if anyone could help me. Here's the question: As more resistors are added in parallel to an existing circuit, what happens to the toal circuit current? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
~Sarah
 
Physics news on Phys.org
When you add resistors in parallel, what happens to the total resistance? Does it get bigger or smaller?
 


Hi Sarah,

Adding resistors in parallel to an existing circuit will decrease the total circuit resistance, which in turn will increase the total circuit current. This is because when resistors are connected in parallel, each resistor provides an additional pathway for current to flow through. As a result, more current will flow through the circuit as a whole.

Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

Thread 'Errors and significant figures'

I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
View full post »
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
View full post »

Similar threads

How to determine if electrical components are connected in parallel or in series?
Replies
10
Views
909
How is the slider connected to the switch?
Replies
6
Views
776
Finding the Current Through a Resistor (Working With Parallel and Series)
Replies
3
Views
1K
How Does Coil Configuration Affect Current in LR Circuits?
Replies
14
Views
4K
Circuits question, series vs parallel
Replies
5
Views
1K
Calculating the voltage across capacitors and resistors with switches
Replies
2
Views
735
An interesting GCSE question: Why are electric lamps connected in parallel in house wiring?
Replies
14
Views
417
Power of resistors in parallel vs series circuit
Replies
7
Views
3K
Adding resistors in parallel - Current Change through resistors
Replies
5
Views
6K
Resistors in Series - Lab data confusion
Replies
34
Views
4K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top