What happens to the total current flowing in a parallel circuit when more branches are added?

What happens to the total current flowing in a parallel circuit when more branches are added?

• A. Decreases
• B. Stays the same
• C. Increases
• D. Depends on resistance

Answer: (C)

In a parallel circuit, the voltage across every branch is the same as the source, and the total current from the supply is the sum of the currents in all branches. When you add another branch with finite resistance, it creates an additional path for current to flow, so the current through that branch is I = V/R_branch, and the total current increases by that amount. Since the equivalent resistance of the network in parallel decreases as you add more paths, Ohm’s law (I = V / R_eq) shows the total current from the source goes up as well. Only in a trivial case where the new branch has effectively infinite resistance (an open circuit) would the total current stay the same. In general, adding more branches increases the total current.

In a parallel circuit, the voltage across every branch is the same as the source, and the total current from the supply is the sum of the currents in all branches. When you add another branch with finite resistance, it creates an additional path for current to flow, so the current through that branch is I = V/R_branch, and the total current increases by that amount. Since the equivalent resistance of the network in parallel decreases as you add more paths, Ohm’s law (I = V / R_eq) shows the total current from the source goes up as well. Only in a trivial case where the new branch has effectively infinite resistance (an open circuit) would the total current stay the same. In general, adding more branches increases the total current.