Physlet Illustration: Resistors in Parallel
In this simulation, a 10 Ohm, 15 Ohm, and 30 Ohm resistor are connected in parallel.  Use the voltmeters and ammeters to measure the voltages and currents in the circuit.  Are the values consistent with the rule for adding resistors in parallel?  Can you verify Kirchoff's node rule?

Hints:

  1. Moving the mouse over the resistors allows you to measure their values.  Moving the mouse over the meters allows you to read them.
  2. What is the equivalent resistance of the circuit?  Is this consistent with the battery voltage and current that it supplies?
  3. What is the voltage drop across each resistor?  How is this related to the voltage drop across the equivalent resistor?
  4. Do the currents flowing into and out of each node add up?  Is Kirchoff's node rule satisfied?
  5. What is the current that flows through a voltmeter?  What is the voltage drop across the ammeters?  Are these as expected?

Reference

See Walker, Sections 21-4 & 21-5

Illustration written by Chuck Niederriter