Parallel circuits

The following schematic diagram shows a parallel circuit:

The preceding diagram shows a parallel circuit where the current has multiple paths to the return. The current can either flow through the branch with the 220-ohm resistor, the branch with the 330-ohm resistor or both branches.

In this sample circuit, as with the series circuit, the load consists of two resistors with values of 330 ohms and 220 ohms, however, this time the resistors are connected in parallel rather than series. The properties of a parallel circuit are very different than the properties of a series circuit. Let's look at these properties.