Resistance in Parallel

Here Different Resistors are connected between 2 points parallel to each other

Example

This is done to decrease net Resistance of Circuit

In this case Total Resistance of circuit is equal to sum of reciprocals of Individual Resistance of the Resistors

1/R = 1/R ₁ + 1/R ₂ + 1/R ₃

IMPORTANT POINTS

When 2 Resistors are Connected in Parallel

1. Different current flow through each resistor but overall Current flowing throughout the circuit remains the Same
   Hence we can say that
   Total Current = Current flowing through first Resistor + Current flowing through Second Resistor + Current flowing through Third Resistor
   I = I ₁ + I ₂ + I 3
   
   
   
   
2. Potential Difference across all  both Resistors remain the same (as they are both between Same points)
   Hence we can say that
   Potential Diff=V
   It is same for both Resistor 1 and Resistor 2
   
   

Now we know that as per Ohm's Law

Potential Diff=Current*Resistance

Potential Difference/Resistance=Current

Current=Potential Diff/Resistance

I = V/R

How is the Resistance formula Derived - for parallel circuits?

Note - In case of parallel, the total resistance is always less than the resistance of the individual resistors.

The net resistance produced is lowest when resistors are connected in parallel.

Questions

NCERT Question 5 - How is a voltmeter connected in the circuit to measure the potential difference between two points?

View Answer

Q1 Page 216 - Judge the equivalent resistance when the following are connected in parallel –
(a) 1 Ω and 10 6 Ω,
(b) 1 Ω and 10 3 Ω, and 10 6 Ω.

View Answer

Q2 Page 216 - An electric lamp of 100 Ω, a toaster of resistance 50 Ω, and a water filter of resistance 500 Ω are connected in parallel to a 220 V source. What is the resistance of an electric iron connected to the same source that takes as much current as all three appliances, and what is the current through it?

View Answer

Q4 Page 216 - How can three resistors of resistances 2 Ω, 3 Ω, and 6 Ω be connected to give a total resistance of (a) 4 Ω, (b) 1 Ω?

View Answer

Q5 Page 216 - What is (a) the highest, (b) the lowest total resistance that can be secured by combinations of four coils of resistance 4 Ω, 8 Ω, 12 Ω, 24 Ω?

View Answer

Example 12.8 - In the circuit diagram given in Fig. 12.10, suppose the resistors R 1 ,R 2 and R 3 have the values 5 Ω, 10 Ω, 30 Ω, respectively, which havebeen connected to a battery of 12 V. Calculate
(a) the current through each resistor,
(b) the total current in the circuit, and
(c) the total circuit resistance.

View Answer

Example 12.9 - If in Fig. 12.12, R 1 = 10 Ω, R 2 = 40 Ω, R 3 = 30 Ω, R 4 = 20 Ω, R 5 = 60 Ω,and a 12 V battery is connected to the arrangement. Calculate
(a) the total resistance in the circuit, and
(b) the total current flowing in the circuit.

View Answer

Question 5 - What is the minimum resistance which can be made using five resistors each of 1/5 Ω?

(a) 1/5 Ω

(b) 1/25 Ω

(c) 1/10 Ω

(d) 25 Ω

View Answer