Three 6 Ω resistors in parallel connected to a 28 V source. What is the total current drawn from the source?

• A. 7 A
• B. 28 A
• C. 14 A
• D. 56 A

Answer: (C)

In a parallel circuit, the voltage across each resistor is the same as the source, and the total current is the sum of the currents through each branch. Each 6 Ω resistor sees 28 V, so the current in one resistor is 28/6 ≈ 4.667 A. With three identical resistors in parallel, add the branch currents: 3 × 28/6 = 84/6 = 14 A.

Another way to see it is the equivalent resistance of three identical resistors in parallel is R/3 = 6/3 = 2 Ω, so the total current from the source is 28/2 = 14 A. The other currents would require an overall resistance not attainable by three 6 Ω resistors in parallel. Therefore, the total current drawn from the source is 14 A.