Worksheet: Analyzing Parallel Circuits
In this worksheet, we will practice determining the currents through and voltages across parts of circuits that contain resistors both in series and parallel.
Q1:
The circuits (a) and (b) appear very similar but are slightly different from each other. What is the difference in the total current between the circuit shown in diagram (a) and the circuit shown in diagram (b)?
Q2:
In the circuit shown, the current takes multiple paths from the positive battery terminal to the negative battery terminal.
Find the total resistance of the circuit.
What is the ratio of the potential drop across the 14 Ω resistor and the 18 Ω resistor?
Q3:
In the circuit shown, and . The total current through the circuit is 0.36 A. What is the resistance ?
Q4:
The circuit shown contains both series and parallel combinations of resistors.
What is the total current in the circuit shown?
What is the total power dissipated by the circuit?
Q5:
What is the current in the circuit shown?
Q6:
Find the total current in the circuit shown.
Q7:
What is the total current through the circuit shown?
- A 3.5 A
- B 3.0 A
- C 1.2 A
- D 0.33 A
- E 12 A
Q8:
What is the ratio of the total current produced by the circuit shown in diagram (a) to the total current produced by the circuit shown in diagram (b)?
- A1.0
- B1.4
- C0.73
- D0.50
- E2.0
Q9:
What is the ratio of the total current produced by the circuit shown in diagram (a) to the total current produced by the circuit shown in diagram (b)?
Q10:
The diagram shows a circuit containing two cells.
What is the current at the negative terminal of the 15-volt battery?
What is the current at the negative terminal of the 12-volt battery?
What is the current through the 3.8 Ω resistor?
Q11:
What is the current in the circuit shown?
Q12:
Current is measured by an ammeter in the circuit shown in the diagram. The ammeter has a resistance of 2.5 µΩ.
What reading would be on the ammeter? Give your answer to two significant figures.
What would the reading on the ammeter be if it were connected in parallel to the 3.5 Ω resistor? Give your answer to two significant figures.
Q13:
The circuit shown has one resistor with an unknown potential drop and some other resistors with known potential drops.
What is the potential drop across the unknown resistor?
What is the potential difference between the points and ?
Q14:
In the circuit shown, the current takes multiple paths from the positive battery terminal to the negative battery terminal.
Find the potential drop across the 12 Ω resistor.
Find the potential drop across the 14 Ω resistor.
Find the potential drop across the 11 Ω resistor.
Find the potential drop across the 17 Ω resistor.
Find the total current in the circuit.
Find the difference in the current through the 11 Ω resistor and the 17 Ω resistor.