Current in a circuit with multiple paths of different resistances splits among paths

Current in a circuit with multiple paths of different resistances splits among paths

• A. Inversely proportional to resistance
• B. All current flows through the path of least resistance
• C. Only the path with the lowest resistance carries current
• D. No current flows if multiple paths

Answer: (A)

When several parallel paths exist, the current splits among them based on each path’s resistance. Since the same voltage is across all branches, each branch draws current according to I = V/R, so a path with smaller resistance draws more current and a path with larger resistance draws less. In general, the currents are inversely proportional to the resistances: lower resistance means higher current, higher resistance means lower current. The rest of the current doesn’t vanish; it flows through all conductive paths, just in different amounts depending on their resistances. That’s why the statement that current is inversely proportional to resistance best describes how current divides in a multi-path circuit.

When several parallel paths exist, the current splits among them based on each path’s resistance. Since the same voltage is across all branches, each branch draws current according to I = V/R, so a path with smaller resistance draws more current and a path with larger resistance draws less. In general, the currents are inversely proportional to the resistances: lower resistance means higher current, higher resistance means lower current. The rest of the current doesn’t vanish; it flows through all conductive paths, just in different amounts depending on their resistances. That’s why the statement that current is inversely proportional to resistance best describes how current divides in a multi-path circuit.