Total resistance in parallel circuits

AI Thread Summary
In parallel circuits, adding more resistors decreases the total resistance because it increases the number of pathways for electrons to flow. Each additional resistor provides an alternative route for current, allowing more current to flow when a voltage source is applied. This results in a higher total current and a lower effective resistance. Effective resistance and total resistance are considered the same in this context. Understanding this concept clarifies why total resistance behaves differently in parallel circuits compared to series circuits.
Hologramdr
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
I understand why the total resistance in a series circuit is a total off all the resistance added together. It seems obvious because all of the electrons will have to go through all of the resistors.

Now, total resistance in a parallel circuit is really messing with my head! In a parallel circuit if you add more resistors, the total resistance goes down. I know the equation and can figure out the problems, but I don't understand **why** it happens. It seems that if you add a resistor it should resist the flow of electrons going through that part of the parallel circuit, therefore increasing the total resistance, not decreasing it. AUGH!

Can someone explain this to me?
Thanks!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
.
Adding more resistors in PARALLEL increases the number of paths for electrons to flow. Each additional path allows additional current to flow and increases the TOTAL current which will flow when a voltage source is applied to all parallel elements. Thus, the effective resistance DEcreases for parallel resistors.


~~
 
Last edited:
What is the difference between effective resistance and total resistance?
 
Hologramdr said:
What is the difference between effective resistance and total resistance?
They are the same. {Effective Resistance}={Total Resistance}.


~~
 

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

Current through a circuit when the key is open
Replies
42
Views
5K
Why do the headlights on the car become dim when the car is starting?
Replies
4
Views
2K
Electrical Circuits - Parallel vs. Series
Replies
14
Views
1K
Equivalent resistance of a circuit
Replies
3
Views
2K
Current through an inductor as a function of time
Replies
10
Views
320
Parallel circuit with internal resistance
Replies
6
Views
2K
Circuit with potential difference across battery being zero?
Replies
3
Views
1K
What's the total resistance in this circuit?
Replies
10
Views
2K
Voltage, Current, and Resistance Calculations
Replies
13
Views
2K
Total equivalent resistance of a combined circuit
Replies
7
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top