Turtleand Energy

Rung 4 · See the loop

Split current in parallel

Give two branches the same voltage and watch their currents add at the source.

foundation25 minutes0 of 4 stages explored
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A six volt source feeding one kiloohm and two kiloohm resistor branches in parallel.
6 V source -> two parallel branches of 1 kiloohm and 2 kiloohms -> return

Knowledge this exercise builds on

Lesson 3: Simple circuits from first principlesLesson 4: Ohm's Law without formula fear

Practice loop

Try each step before revealing its answer.

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ComponentsSee the parts and values before you start.
  • One 6 V DC voltage source
  • One 1 kΩ resistor
  • One 2 kΩ resistor
  • Wires and one ground reference
PredictCommit to an expected result before running the circuit.

Predict the voltage across each branch, each branch current, and the current supplied by the source.

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Each branch has 6 V across it. The 1 kΩ branch carries 6 mA, the 2 kΩ branch carries 3 mA, and the source supplies 9 mA total. The equivalent resistance is about 667 Ω.

BuildWire the circuit yourself from a blank canvas.

Create two branches between the same top and bottom nodes. Place one resistor in each branch.

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Connect both resistor tops to the source node and both resistor bottoms to the return node. If the branches do not share both nodes, they are not in parallel.

MeasureSee what to inspect, compare, and change.

Record the voltage and current for each branch, then measure the source current. Check whether the branch currents add to the source reading.

Reveal expected resultHide expected result
both branches -> 6 V
1 kΩ branch -> 6 mA
2 kΩ branch -> 3 mA
source total -> 9 mA

The equivalent resistance is about 667 Ω.

ExplainConnect the observation back to your model.

Explain why current divides while voltage remains equal across the branches. Then explain why adding a branch lowers total resistance.

Reveal explanationHide explanation

Parallel branches share the same two nodes, so they share voltage. Current divides according to branch resistance, and the source current is the sum of the branch currents. Adding another path lets more current flow at the same voltage, which lowers equivalent resistance.

Optional referenceReveal reference circuitCompare only after you build. Opening this panel does not contact Falstad.

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Safety boundary

This is a low-voltage educational model.

Do not translate it into mains construction, household wiring, battery-pack work, or real protection settings. Real electrical systems need rated components, proper protection, test equipment, and qualified safety judgment.