Question
How does the total current relate to the individual currents in a circuit of parallel resistors?
Answer Options
- A) It equals the average of the branch currents
- B) It decreases as more parallel branches are added to the circuit
- C) It equals the sum of the currents through each branch
- D) It is the sum of the reciprocal of each individual voltage drop
Correct Answer: C
Explanation
The relationship between total current and branch currents in a parallel circuit is defined by Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL). KCL states that the total current entering a junction must equal the total current leaving that junction.
In a parallel circuit, the power source provides current to multiple paths (branches). The total current entering the circuit equals the sum of the currents through each branch. This means that adding more branches (resistors) in parallel decreases the total circuit resistance and increases the total current drawn from the source.
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