In this experiment there are two LED's (Left and Right). The left LED is connected to a 3.3k ohms resister, and, in addition, to a variable resistor (0 to 50k ohms). The left LED is connected only to a 10k ohms resistor. The first picture, shows a lighted left LED and a very dim right LED because most of the current is flowing in the direction of least resistance. The variable resistor is set to 0 ohms, which leaves only a resistance of 3.3k ohms. Where as the right LED has a higher resistance of 10k ohms. The second picture, shows both LED's lighted because the Variable resistor is set to give equal resistance as the right LED (10k ohms) resistance. In the last picture, the right LED is the brightest because the variable resistor is set to the maximum resistance of 50k ohms. Like experiment #5 current is still flowing in multiple paths, but nearly all the current is flowing towards the path of least resistance.
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| Current is flowing through left LED |
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| Equal resistance current is divided between both LEDs |
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| Current is flowing through right LED Further Study: Questions and Answers on Physics What is a Parallel Circuit? |
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