GOVERNMENT OF LUANDA PROVINCE

INDUSTRIAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE OF VIANA

ENERGY AND ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS

PARALLEL CIRCUIT

INSTRUCTOR

ANDRÉ MATEUS

LUANDA
2025
 N NAMES OF THE STUDENTS GRADE FOR THE ASSIGNMENT INDIVIDUAL GRADE

°
11 CLEUMAR VELOSO
20 EMÍLIA PANZO
23 HELENA KISSENGUELE
24 JAIME QUIALA
25 JANUÁRIO DOMINGOS
39 WILMA MAFANDUQUIDI

Group: 0

12th grade

Class: AT

Course: Energy and Electrical Installations

Field of study: Electricity

Luanda
2025
 Abstract

This paper discusses an important concept in electricity: parallel circuits. It explores their
main characteristics and operation, and includes a comparison with series circuits,
highlighting their fundamental differences. Understanding parallel circuits is essential for
designing electrical systems, as they offer greater reliability and efficiency.
 Introduction

Electrical circuits are essential for the operation of many systems we use in our
daily lives, with the most common types being parallel and series circuits. This
paper aims to present the parallel circuit, discussing its characteristics,
operation, applications, advantages, disadvantages, and the main differences
compared to the series circuit.
 Development

It is important to first understand what an electrical circuit is in order to better comprehend

how a parallel circuit works. An electrical circuit is a closed path through which electric
current flows, enabling the operation of various electrical and electronic devices. This path is
formed by conductive wires and components that consume or control electrical energy.
Depending on how these components are arranged, circuits can be classified as series or
parallel, with the parallel configuration being the focus of this paper.

Now that we understand what an electrical circuit is, we can discuss the parallel circuit. A
parallel circuit is a type of connection in which electrical components are connected through
multiple paths. This means that electric current can flow through more than one route,
dividing among these paths. In this type of circuit, the voltage is the same across all
components, while the current varies depending on the resistance of each branch. This
characteristic allows components to operate independently — in other words, if one fails, the
others can continue functioning normally (As illustrated in Figure 1).

Figure 1 – Representation of a parallel circuit.

Note that the components are connected in separate branches, receiving the same voltage while the current
divides between them.
Now that we’ve explained the basic operation of parallel circuits, it is important to highlight
their main characteristics, which are:

 Constant Voltage: The voltage applied is the same across all components, regardless
of their position in the circuit.
Formula: Ut = U1 = U2 = U3=U…
  Divided Current: The total current flowing through the circuit is equal to the sum of
the currents flowing through each component. Formula: It= I1 + I2 + I3 +…
 Total Resistance: In a parallel circuit, the total resistance is always lower than the
smallest individual resistance, and the more resistors are connected in parallel, the
1 1 2 3
lower the total resistance becomes. Formula: =¿ + + +…
R total R1 R2 R3
Parallel circuits are widely used in everyday electrical and electronic systems due to their
efficiency. Some examples include:
 Residential electrical installations: Lights, and outlets are connected in parallel so
they can function independently of one another.
 Electronic equipment: This includes devices such as computers and smartphones,
where different components need to operate simultaneously. Example: memory
processor.
 Public lighting systems: Allows each lamp to function separately, even if others are
turned off or malfunctioning.
Parallel circuits offer several important advantages. Some advantages are:
 Independence of components: Each component operates independently, meaning a
failure in one does not affect the others.
 Constant voltage: All components receive the same voltage, ensuring stable
operation.
 Ease of expansion: New components can be added to the circuit without
compromising the operation of existing ones.
Parallel circuits also present some disadvantages. The main ones are: Increased current
consumption, design complexity, difficulty in identifying faults, and higher costs
associated with the elevated current demand.
To better understand the differences between parallel and series circuits, the table below
provides a comparison.
Criterion Parallel circuit Series circuit
Voltage Same across all components Divided among components
Current Divided among components Same through all
components
Failure A burned-out component does not A failure interrupts the entire
affect the others circuit
 Conclusion
In conclusion, parallel circuits allow current to flow through multiple paths, keeping voltage
constant across components. They offer advantages like independent operation and reliability,
making them ideal for applications such as home wiring. Despite some complexity, their
benefits outweigh the drawbacks when compared to series circuits.