In a parallel circuit, the total current equals

In a parallel circuit, the total current equals

• A. The sum of the branch currents
• B. The product of the branch currents
• C. The total current equals the sum of the branch currents
• D. The largest branch current

Answer: (C)

In a parallel circuit, the current from the source splits into multiple paths, and the total current is the sum of the currents in each path. This follows Kirchhoff’s current idea: the amount of current entering a junction must equal the amount leaving, so the source must supply all the currents that flow through the parallel branches combined. Since each branch has the same voltage across it, each branch draws I_i = V/R_i, and the total current is I_total = I1 + I2 + ... . For example, if two branches carry 2 A and 3 A, the source provides 5 A. The total isn’t the product of branch currents, nor is it determined by a single branch’s current, so the sum of the branch currents is the correct description.

In a parallel circuit, the current from the source splits into multiple paths, and the total current is the sum of the currents in each path. This follows Kirchhoff’s current idea: the amount of current entering a junction must equal the amount leaving, so the source must supply all the currents that flow through the parallel branches combined. Since each branch has the same voltage across it, each branch draws I_i = V/R_i, and the total current is I_total = I1 + I2 + ... . For example, if two branches carry 2 A and 3 A, the source provides 5 A. The total isn’t the product of branch currents, nor is it determined by a single branch’s current, so the sum of the branch currents is the correct description.