Parallel Circuits
. If various objects are connected to form separate paths between the terminals of a source of electric current, they are said to be connected in parallel. Each separate path is called a branch of the circuit. Current from the source splits up and enters the various branches. After flowing through the separate branches, the current merges again before reentering the current source. The total resistance of objects connected in parallel is less than that of any of the individual resistances. This is because a parallel circuit offers more than one branch (path) for the electric current, whereas a series circuit has only one path for all the current. The electric current through a parallel circuit is distributed among the branches according to the resistances of the branches. If each branch has the same resistance, then the current in each will be equal. If the branches have different resistances, the current in each branch can be determined from the equation I = V/R , where I is the amou