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Difference between revisions of "Parallel Circuit"

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| style="height:20px; width:200px; text-align:center;" |The [[Electrical Current|current]] from the [[battery]] splits at the [[junction]] sharing the [[Electrical Current|current]] between the two [[Electrical Bulb|bulbs]].
 
| style="height:20px; width:200px; text-align:center;" |The [[Electrical Current|current]] from the [[battery]] splits at the [[junction]] sharing the [[Electrical Current|current]] between the two [[Electrical Bulb|bulbs]].
| style="height:20px; width:200px; text-align:center;" |The two [[Electrical Bulb|bulbs]] can be switched on and off separately.
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| style="height:20px; width:200px; text-align:center;" |The two [[Electrical Bulb|bulbs]] in this '''parallel circuit''' can be switched on and off separately.
 
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: [[Electrical Component|Components]] placed in '''parallel''' with each other have the same [[Potential Difference]] across them.
 
: [[Electrical Component|Components]] placed in '''parallel''' with each other have the same [[Potential Difference]] across them.

Revision as of 14:24, 31 October 2018

Key Stage 3

Meaning

A Parallel Circuit is an electrical circuit with two or more paths the current can flow along.

About Parallel Circuits

In a parallel circuit the current is split at junctions before taking a different path.
Switches can be placed in a Parallel Circuit to allow current along one path at a time.
CircuitDiagramBatteryBulbBulbParallel.png
CircuitDiagramBulbSwitchBulbSwitchParallel.png
The current from the battery splits at the junction sharing the current between the two bulbs. The two bulbs in this parallel circuit can be switched on and off separately.
Components placed in parallel with each other have the same Potential Difference across them.


Examples

CircuitCellBulbVoltmeterParallel.png
CircuitCellBulbBulbParallel.png
CircuitCellMotorBulbParallel.png
CircuitDiagramCellBulbVoltmeterParallel.png
CircuitDiagramCellBulbBulbParallel.png
CircuitDiagramCellMotorBulbParallel.png
The cell, bulb and Voltmeter are in parallel so they have the same Potential Difference across them. The two bulbs are in parallel so they have the same Potential Difference across them but may have a different Current passing through them. The bulb and motor are in parallel so they have the same Potential Difference across them but may have a different Current passing through them.