Table of Contents
Understanding how current flows in electrical circuits is essential for designing and troubleshooting electronic systems. This article explains how to determine current flow in series and parallel DC circuits, providing clear methods for analysis.
Current in Series Circuits
In a series circuit, components are connected end-to-end, forming a single path for current. The same current flows through all components, but the voltage divides across them based on their resistance.
To find the current in a series circuit, use Ohm’s Law:
I = V / R
Where I is the current, V is the total voltage supplied, and R is the total resistance of the circuit.
Current in Parallel Circuits
In a parallel circuit, components are connected across the same voltage source, creating multiple paths for current. The total current divides among the branches based on their resistance.
To determine the current in each branch, apply Ohm’s Law to each path:
Ibranch = V / Rbranch
The total current supplied by the source is the sum of the currents in all branches:
- Calculate the resistance of each branch.
- Use Ohm’s Law to find the current in each branch.
- Sum all branch currents to find the total current.