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Parallel Circuit

Revision as of 13:44, 31 October 2018 by NRJC (talk | contribs)

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.
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.