What is the effect of connecting resistors in parallel compared to in series?

When resistors are connected in parallel, the total resistance of the circuit is lower than the resistance of any individual resistor. This occurs because multiple paths are created for the current to flow, effectively allowing more charge to pass through the circuit simultaneously.

The total resistance (R_total) in a parallel circuit can be calculated using the formula:

1/R_total = 1/R_1 + 1/R_2 + 1/R_3 + ...

This formula shows that the reciprocal of the total resistance is the sum of the reciprocals of the individual resistances. As a result, when additional resistors are added in parallel, the overall resistance decreases. This is in contrast to resistors connected in series, where the total resistance is simply the sum of the individual resistances, leading to a higher total resistance.

Thus, connecting resistors in parallel reduces the total resistance compared to connecting them in series.