A parallel circuit is formed when the circuit elements are connected on separate conducting paths. If you begin to trace a path from the positive terminal of the voltage source and you reach a point where there is more than one path you could follow to return to the negative terminal of the voltage source, the circuit is a parallel circuit.

An advantage of a parallel circuit is that if one path of the parallel circuit is open, current can still flow through the other conducting paths in the circuit.

The following video gives a more in-depth analysis of parallel circuits:

Visit Parallel Circuits, view the animation and write the rules for voltage V, current I, and resistance R in your notes.

Practice Problem

A circuit contains a 6 V battery and a 62 Ω resistor and an 82 Ω resistor arranged in parallel.

1. Determine the current in each resistor.
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Need a hint?
Identify known variables: V = 6 V, R₁ = 68 Ω, R₂ = 82 Ω
Remember that the voltage across the resistors in parallel will be equal to the voltage of the battery, therefore, the voltage drop across both the 68 Ω resistor and the 82 Ω resistor is 6 V.
Equation: I = V R
For each resistor, substitute variables and solve.
1. 68 Ω: I = 6V 68 Ω = 0.08824 A
2. 82 Ω: I = 6V 82 Ω = 0.07317 A
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Check Your Answer
68 Ω resistor = 0.08824 A
82 Ω resistor = 0.07317 A
2. Determine the current produced by the battery.
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Need a hint?
The total current in a parallel circuit is the sum of the current that passes through each path of the circuit. Add the current that passes through the 68 Ω resistor and the current that passes through the 82 Ω resistor together.
I_total = 0.08824 A + 0.07317 A
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Check Your Answer
0.1614 A