In a parallel circuit, what is the main property of current in parallel branches?

In a parallel circuit, what is the main property of current in parallel branches?

• A. The total current is the sum of the currents in each branch
• B. The current in every branch is the same
• C. No current flows in the branches with higher resistance
• D. The current in a branch is independent of resistance

Answer: (A)

In parallel circuits, the voltage across every branch is the same, and the currents in the branches add together to form the total current drawn from the source. Each branch draws I = V/R_branch, so branches with smaller resistance draw more current, while higher resistance branches draw less—but they still carry some current. The overall current is the sum of the branch currents because charge that leaves the source splits at the junctions and must flow through all branches to recombine later. So the best description is that the total current is the sum of the currents in each branch. The other statements fail because a higher-resistance branch still carries current, and a branch’s current depends on its resistance (not independent of it).

In parallel circuits, the voltage across every branch is the same, and the currents in the branches add together to form the total current drawn from the source. Each branch draws I = V/R_branch, so branches with smaller resistance draw more current, while higher resistance branches draw less—but they still carry some current. The overall current is the sum of the branch currents because charge that leaves the source splits at the junctions and must flow through all branches to recombine later. So the best description is that the total current is the sum of the currents in each branch. The other statements fail because a higher-resistance branch still carries current, and a branch’s current depends on its resistance (not independent of it).