What impact does a parallel connection have on total resistance?

In a parallel connection, the total resistance decreases as more resistors are added to the circuit. This occurs because the current has multiple pathways to flow through; each additional resistor provides an alternate route. The formula that determines the total resistance in a parallel circuit is found using the reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocals of each individual resistance.

For example, if you have two resistors in parallel, the total resistance can be calculated as follows:

1/R_total = 1/R1 + 1/R2.

Through this calculation, the resulting total resistance is always lower than the smallest individual resistor in the parallel circuit. Thus, adding more resistors in parallel continues to lower the total resistance, leading to an increase in the overall current supplied by a voltage source according to Ohm's law (I = V/R).

This principle is essential in electrical engineering and applications where it’s important to manage the flow of current efficiently, which makes understanding the impact of parallel connections on resistance crucial.