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Circuit Connections in Resistors -

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4-6 minutes

A Resistor when connected in a circuit, that connection can be either

series or parallel. Let us now know what will happen to the total
current, voltage and resistance values if they are connected in series
as well, when connected in parallel.

Resistors in Series

Let us observe what happens, when few resistors are connected in

Series. Let us consider three resistors with different values, as
shown in the figure below.

Resistance

The total resistance of a circuit having series resistors is equal to the

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sum of the individual resistances. That means, in the above figure

there are three resistors having the values 1KΩ, 5KΩ and 9KΩ
respectively.

Total resistance value of the resistor network is −

R=R1+R2+R3
� = �� + �� + ��

Which means 1 + 5 + 9 = 15KΩ is the total resistance.

Where R1 is the resistance of 1st resistor, R2 is the resistance of 2nd

resistor and R3 is the resistance of 3rd resistor in the above resistor

network.

Voltage

The total voltage that appears across a series resistors network is

the addition of voltage drops at each individual resistances. In the
above figure we have three different resistors which have three
different values of voltage drops at each stage.

Total voltage that appears across the circuit −

V=V1+V2+V3
� = �� + �� + ��

Which means 1v + 5v + 9v = 15v is the total voltage.

Where V1 is the voltage drop of 1st resistor, V2 is the voltage drop of

2nd resistor and V3 is the voltage drop of 3rd resistor in the above
resistor network.

Current

The total amount of Current that flows through a set of resistors

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connected in series is the same at all the points throughout the

resistor network. Hence the current is same 5A when measured at
the input or at any point between the resistors or even at the output.

Current through the network −

I=I1=I2=I3
� = �� = �� = ��

Which means that current at all points is 5A.

Where I1 is the current through the 1st resistor, I2 is the current

through the 2nd resistor and I3 is the current through the 3rd resistor
in the above resistor network.

Resistors in Parallel

Let us observe what happens, when few resistors are connected in

Parallel. Let us consider three resistors with different values, as
shown in the figure below.

Resistance

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The total resistance of a circuit having Parallel resistors is calculated

differently from the series resistor network method. Here, the
reciprocal 1/R1/� value of individual resistances are added with the
inverse of algebraic sum to get the total resistance value.

Total resistance value of the resistor network is −

1R=1R1+1R2+1R3
1 1 1 1
= + +
� �� �� ��

Where R1 is the resistance of 1st resistor, R2 is the resistance of 2nd

resistor and R3 is the resistance of 3rd resistor in the above resistor

network.

For example, if the resistance values of previous example are

considered, which means R1 = 1KΩ, R2 = 5KΩ and R3 = 9KΩ. The
total resistance of parallel resistor network will be −

1R=11+15+19
1 1 1 1
= + +
� 1 5 9
=45+9+545=5945
45 + 9 + 5 59
= =
45 45
R=4559=0.762KΩ=76.2Ω
45
� = = 0.762� Ω = 76.2Ω
59
From the method we have for calculating parallel resistance, we can
derive a simple equation for two-resistor parallel network. It is −

R=R1×R2R1+R2
�� × ��
� =
�� + ��

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Voltage

The total voltage that appears across a Parallel resistors network is

same as the voltage drops at each individual resistance.

The Voltage that appears across the circuit −

V=V1=V2=V3
� = �� = �� = ��

Where V1 is the voltage drop of 1st resistor, V2 is the voltage drop of

2nd resistor and V3 is the voltage drop of 3rd resistor in the above
resistor network. Hence the voltage is same at all the points of a
parallel resistor network.

Current

The total amount of current entering a Parallel resistive network is the

sum of all individual currents flowing in all the Parallel branches. The
resistance value of each branch determines the value of current that
flows through it. The total current through the network is

I=I1+I2+I3
� = �� + �� + ��

Where I1 is the current through the 1st resistor, I2 is the current

through the 2nd resistor and I3 is the current through the 3rd resistor
in the above resistor network. Hence the sum of individual currents in
different branches obtain the total current in a parallel resistive
network.

A Resistor is particularly used as a load in the output of many circuits.

If at all the resistive load is not used, a resistor is placed before a
load. Resistor is usually a basic component in any circuit.

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