17.5 CHAPTER 17. ELECTRIC CIRCUITS
Rearrange
1
RP =R 2 +R 1
R 1 R 2
1
RP =
R 1 +R 2
R 1 R 2
RP=RR^1 R^2
1 +R 2
For any two resistors in parallel we now know that
RP=product of resistancessum of resistances =RR^1 R^2
1 +R 2General experiment: Current dividers
Aim:Test what happens to the current and the voltage in series circuits when addi-
tional resistors are added.
Apparatus:- A battery
- A voltmeter
- An ammeter
- Wires
- Resistors
Method:- Connect each circuit shown below
- Measure the voltage across each resistor in the circuit.
- Measure the current before and after each resistor in the circuit and before
and after the parallel branches.
304 Physics: Electricity and Magnetism