[Potironette]

For parallel circuits, can I also pretend that all the resistors in parallel merge together into one resistor? And it just so happens from how the math works out, the resistance for the parallel circuit can be calculated using: 1/R_eq = 1/R_1 + 1/R_2 +...
(I think based on what I learned in class today, I am treating parallel circuits that way. As for the equation, I do remember how to find it, though I wonder why that's the equation on my reference sheet and not (R_1 * R_2)/(R_1 + R_2) = R_eq )

Err..so voltage measures change in potential energy based on current and time, and when voltage drops it means some potential energy got converted into some other energy across a resistor?
And all the while the battery has its own voltage, potential isn't the only thing that matters...so resulting from the potential is electrons moving--which is kinetic energy. But, just like how if I slide a book across the table, the kinetic energy of the book is lost to friction/heat/etc. and it stops, the electrons are sort of "stopping"--except there is a constant "force." Therefore, just as pushing a book across a table vs across a rug, more KE is lost to heat across the rug and so it is slower, so too does more resistance mean the current is slower across a circuit with more resistance?

And is that why Power = Work/time = ΔPE/time? Because somehow, change in PE is sort of Force (and distance)...P = W/t --> W = Fd = ΔPE for electric fields = qEd = qΔV --> P = qΔV/t --> P = VI?
Why doesn't distance matter in a circuit? Does it really just not exist as a value? But at the same time, I can't very well say P = F/t, because then P = IE.


EDIT: Random question-how does a voltmeter measure voltage? I assumed that the greater the current passing through the voltmeter, the greater the voltage measured. But apparently the ideal voltmeter has infinite resistance? Doesn't that mean no current passes through the voltmeter? And if there is no current, how does it measure anything?