In a parallel circuit, current is:

In a parallel circuit, current is:

• A. shared across each branch
• B. the same in every branch
• C. zero in all but one branch
• D. unaffected by branch resistance

Answer: (A)

In a parallel circuit, the current from the source divides among the branches rather than staying on one path. This division means the current is shared across each branch, with the amount in a given branch depending on that branch’s resistance: lower resistance draws more current, higher resistance draws less. The total current leaving the source is the sum of the currents in all branches. So the correct idea is that current is shared across each branch. This contrasts with the other possibilities: the current isn’t the same in every branch because different branches can draw different currents; it isn’t zero in all but one branch unless the others are open circuits; and it is not unaffected by branch resistance, since I = V/R governs how much current flows in each branch.

In a parallel circuit, the current from the source divides among the branches rather than staying on one path. This division means the current is shared across each branch, with the amount in a given branch depending on that branch’s resistance: lower resistance draws more current, higher resistance draws less. The total current leaving the source is the sum of the currents in all branches.

So the correct idea is that current is shared across each branch. This contrasts with the other possibilities: the current isn’t the same in every branch because different branches can draw different currents; it isn’t zero in all but one branch unless the others are open circuits; and it is not unaffected by branch resistance, since I = V/R governs how much current flows in each branch.