A Level Physics Practice Exam 2026 - Free A Level Physics Practice Questions and Study Guide

Question: 1 / 400

How is the current distributed in a parallel circuit?

It is the same in all branches

It is split equally among branches

It can vary in each branch

In a parallel circuit, the key point is that the total current supplied by the source gets divided among the various branches of the circuit. The current flowing through each branch can vary based on the resistance of that branch, following Ohm's law.

Specifically, if one branch has a lower resistance compared to another, a larger portion of the total current will flow through the branch with the lower resistance. Hence, each branch can have a different amount of current depending on its specific characteristics. This variability in branch currents is fundamentally what describes current distribution in parallel circuits, making the answer correct.

In scenarios where multiple resistors are used in parallel, the total current into the circuit is equal to the sum of the currents flowing through each resistor, but individual currents can differ significantly based on their resistances.

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It accumulates at each branch

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