Parallel Circuits

What are Parallel Circuits?

Parallel circuits are circuits in which all electrical components are only connected using parallel connections [1]. A parallel connection occurs when electrical components are connected across each other's leads [2]. Thus, every electrical component in a parallel circuit is directly connected across every other electrical component in the circuit. In addition, every electrical component in a parallel circuit will have the same voltage across it [3].

What are the three principles of Parallel Circuits?

1. Voltage:Voltage is equal across all components in a parallel circuit.
2. Current: The total circuit current is equal to the sum of the individual branch currents.
3. Resistance: Individual resistances diminishto equal a smaller total resistance rather than add to make the total.[4]

The equation for resistance in parallel circuits:

The equation for capacitors in parallel circuits:

A parallel capacitor circuit is an electronic circuit in which all the capacitors are connected side by side in different paths so that the same charge or current will not flow through each capacitor. When a voltage is applied to the parallel circuit, each capacitor will get the different charge.

The way to calculate total Capacitance in a parallel circuit is the same as to calculate total resistance in a series circuit.

The equation for inductors in parallel circuits:

When inductors are connected in parallel, the total inductance is less than any one of the parallel inductors' inductances. Again, remember that the definitive measure of inductance is the amount of voltage dropped across an inductor for a given rate of current change through it.

The way to calculate total Inductance in a parallel circuit is the same as to calculate total resistance in a parallel circuit.

What are the differences between AC and DC  parallel circuits? Do they use the same equations?

Direct current (DC) is the flow of electric charge in only one direction. It is the steady state of a constant-voltage circuit. 

Alternating current (AC) is the flow of electric charge that periodically reverses direction.  [5]

For circuits made only of resistors, the formulas are the same.

The major change from DC to AC is that two new components become relevant: the inductor and the capacitor.

For inductor and capacitor, except the resistance part, it also has a reactance part, reactance uses imaginary numbers (square root of -1). Impedance is a “complex” number consisting of a “real” part plus an imaginary part. 

For a better understanding, here is a video tutorial for you:

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References