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Parallel Circuits

When components are connected in parallel:

there is the same potential difference across each component
the current through each component depends on its resistance; the greater the resistance of the component, the smaller the current;
the total current through the whole circuit is the sum of the currents through the separate components - this follows from Kirchhoff's First Law - 'the algebraic sum of the currents at a junction in a circuit is zero'.

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