Aircrewman Mechanical (AWF) Test 2 Practice

In a parallel circuit, which statement about current and voltage is true?

Total current equals the sum of branch currents; voltage across each branch equals the supply voltage. Total current is less than each branch current. The voltage across each branch is zero. The currents in the branches are always equal.

Correct Answer:

Total current is less than each branch current.

Explanation:

In a parallel circuit, the same voltage is applied across every branch, and the currents from each branch add up to become the total current drawn from the source. This means the voltage across each branch equals the supply voltage, while the branch currents depend on each branch’s resistance and can differ from one another. The total current is the sum of all branch currents, so it is not less than each individual branch current; it’s typically larger, especially as more branches are added or as branches have lower resistance drew more current. For example, if one branch draws 3 A and another draws 1 A, the total current from the source is 4 A. The currents in the branches are not required to be equal unless the branch resistances are identical.

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