Understanding Current Flow in Parallel Circuits with Inductors and Resistors

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on current flow in parallel circuits involving inductors and resistors. It confirms that in a parallel circuit, current flows preferentially through the path of least resistance. The user derived the equation I3(t) = -I1[1-e^(-Rt/L)] using Kirchhoff's laws, indicating that as the inductor charges, the current through the resistor diminishes. This highlights the principle that in a parallel configuration, the current can differ across components, unlike in series circuits.

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  • Understanding of Kirchhoff's laws
  • Knowledge of parallel circuit configurations
  • Familiarity with inductors and their charging behavior
  • Basic algebra for manipulating circuit equations
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semc
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Hi, I was wondering am I correct to say that in a circuit, more current will flow in the path where the resistance is the least? If an inductor and a resistor are connected in parallel to a battery with the inductor initially uncharged. The current passing through the inductor will rise slowly to a certain value correct? But how do we find the current passing through the inductor? I tried using Kirchoff's law and got these three equations-
I2R=E
I3+I2=I1
-I2R+L(dI3/dt)=0

After some algebra I got -I1R+I3R+L(dI3/dt)=0 which gives me I3(t)=-I1[1-e-(Rt/L)]. Is this correct? This equation suggests after the inductor is charged up the current will not flow through the resistor?
 

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Because of conservation of charge, you can't have current moving at different rates across a resistor and an inductor in a series. Currents can only differ if the circuit is in parallel (or for a capacitor...since capacitors store charge - currents don't actually move across capacitors).
 
Sorry I meant to say parallel circuit.
 

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