The components in a ______ circuit are connected side by side.

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In a parallel circuit, components are connected side by side across the same two points, so each component directly shares the same two terminals of the source. This means every component experiences the same voltage. The current from the source splits among the parallel branches, with the total current equal to the sum of the branch currents. The overall resistance seen by the source decreases as more parallel paths are added, since 1 over the total resistance equals the sum of 1 over each branch resistance.

Choosing a series arrangement would place components in a single path, not side by side, so the same current flows through all of them while voltages add up. A mixed configuration combines both layouts, not purely side-by-side. An isolated setup doesn’t form a single connected circuit across the same two points.