Question

How is the total resistance of a parallel circuit calculated

Answer 1

The total resistance in a parallel circuit is found using the formula Rp = (R1 * R2) / (R1 + R2) for two resistors, or by summing the reciprocals of each individual resistance for more than two resistors.

Step-by-step explanation:

The total resistance of a parallel circuit can be calculated using a special formula. Specifically, for two resistors in parallel, the formula is Rp = (R1 * R2) / (R1 + R2), where Rp is the total resistance, and R1 and R2 are the resistances of the individual resistors. If there are more than two resistors, the reciprocal of the total resistance is the sum of the reciprocals of each individual resistance: 1 / Rp = 1 / R1 + 1 / R2 + 1 / R3 + .... This formula ensures that the total resistance in a parallel circuit will always be less than the value of the smallest resistor in the circuit.

Answer 2

You can find TOTAL RESISTANCE in a Parallel circuit with the following formula: 1/Rt = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 + ... " Before we get into the calculations, remember what we said at the start of this section: "The total resistance of a parallel circuit is NOT equal to the sum of the resistors (like in a series circuit).