In a parallel circuit, the total current drawn from the source is:

• A. The current through each resistor is the same.
• B. The total current drawn from the source is greater than the current through either resistor individually.
• C. The voltage across each resistor is different.
• D. The total resistance equals the resistance of the largest resistor.

Answer: (B)

In a parallel circuit, the current from the source splits among the different branches, and the total current is the sum of the currents in each branch. Because current is added in parallel paths, the source must deliver more current than flows through any single branch.

For example, with two resistors in parallel across a 12-volt source, the current in each resistor is I = V/R. If one resistor is 4 ohms and the other is 8 ohms, the currents are 3 A and 1.5 A, respectively, giving a total from the source of 4.5 A. That total is greater than either branch current.

In parallel, the voltage across each resistor is the same, so it’s not true that the voltages across the resistors are different. The total resistance in parallel is not the largest resistor; it’s actually less than the smallest resistor (for two resistors, Rt = (R1*R2)/(R1+R2)).