In a parallel circuit, the current through a branch is determined primarily by which property of that branch?

In a parallel circuit, the current through a branch is determined primarily by which property of that branch?

• A. Voltage
• B. Current
• C. Resistance
• D. Power

Answer: (C)

In a parallel circuit, the voltage across each branch is the same, coming from the source. The current through a single branch follows Ohm’s law: I = V / R. With the branch voltage fixed, the current is set by the branch’s resistance—lower resistance means more current, higher resistance means less. So the branch’s resistance is the primary factor determining how much current flows through that branch. The supply voltage is the same for all branches, so it doesn’t vary the current from branch to branch; power depends on both voltage and current and isn’t the primary determinant of the current in a single branch.

In a parallel circuit, the voltage across each branch is the same, coming from the source. The current through a single branch follows Ohm’s law: I = V / R. With the branch voltage fixed, the current is set by the branch’s resistance—lower resistance means more current, higher resistance means less. So the branch’s resistance is the primary factor determining how much current flows through that branch. The supply voltage is the same for all branches, so it doesn’t vary the current from branch to branch; power depends on both voltage and current and isn’t the primary determinant of the current in a single branch.