What happens to current when a source splits into two or more paths?

What happens to current when a source splits into two or more paths?

• A. Current does not split
• B. Current splits between paths
• C. Total current increases
• D. Total current decreases

Answer: (B)

When a source splits into two or more paths, the current divides among those parallel paths. The same voltage appears across each path, so how much current goes through each path depends on that path’s resistance: lower resistance draws more current, higher resistance draws less. The currents in all the branches add up to give the total current drawn from the source. If the path resistances are equal, the current splits evenly; if not, the distribution shifts toward the lower-resistance paths. In general, adding parallel paths lowers the overall resistance, which can increase the total current from a fixed-voltage source, but the essential idea is that the current splits between the paths.

When a source splits into two or more paths, the current divides among those parallel paths. The same voltage appears across each path, so how much current goes through each path depends on that path’s resistance: lower resistance draws more current, higher resistance draws less. The currents in all the branches add up to give the total current drawn from the source. If the path resistances are equal, the current splits evenly; if not, the distribution shifts toward the lower-resistance paths. In general, adding parallel paths lowers the overall resistance, which can increase the total current from a fixed-voltage source, but the essential idea is that the current splits between the paths.