What is the effect of connecting resistors in parallel on total resistance?

Connecting resistors in parallel affects the total resistance in a way that it decreases. When resistors are connected in parallel, the total resistance can be calculated using the formula:

1/R_total = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 + ...

where R1, R2, R3, etc., are the resistances of the individual resistors. This formula shows that the reciprocal of the total resistance is the sum of the reciprocals of the individual resistances.

As a result, because each additional parallel resistor provides an alternative path for the current to flow, the overall ability of the circuit to conduct electricity increases, effectively lowering the total resistance. This is a key characteristic of parallel circuits: they allow for multiple pathways for current, thus reducing the total resistance as compared to when resistors are in series.

In practical terms, this means that if several resistors are arranged in parallel, the total resistance will always be less than the smallest individual resistor in the group, which is a fundamental principle in electrical circuits.