Rinnakkaispiiri

Rinnakkaispiiri, meaning parallel circuit in Finnish, is an electrical circuit in which components are connected across one another, forming multiple paths for current to flow. In a parallel circuit, the voltage across each component is the same. The total current flowing into the circuit is the sum of the currents flowing through each individual branch.

This arrangement is distinct from a series circuit, where components are connected end-to-end, providing only a single path for current. The primary advantage of a parallel circuit is that if one component fails or is removed, the other components in the circuit will continue to function because the current can still flow through the alternative paths. This makes parallel circuits very common in household electrical wiring, where multiple appliances can operate independently.

The calculation of total resistance in a parallel circuit is different from a series circuit. The reciprocal of the total resistance is equal to the sum of the reciprocals of the individual resistances. Mathematically, this is expressed as 1/R_total = 1/R_1 + 1/R_2 + 1/R_3 + ... . This means that adding more resistors in parallel will decrease the total resistance of the circuit. Conversely, the total current is the sum of the currents in each branch: I_total = I_1 + I_2 + I_3 + ... . Ohm's Law (V=IR) applies to the entire circuit and to each individual branch.