In a parallel circuit with two identical resistors, what is the relationship between total current and the current through one resistor?

In a parallel circuit with two identical resistors, what is the relationship between total current and the current through one resistor?

• A. The total current is the same as the current through one resistor.
• B. The total current is half the current through one resistor.
• C. The total current is twice the current through one resistor.
• D. The total current is four times the current through one resistor.

Answer: (C)

In a parallel circuit, the same voltage drives each resistor, so the current through each identical resistor is I = V/R. The currents in parallel add, so the total current from the source is I_total = I + I = 2I. This means the total current is twice the current through one resistor. You can also see this by noting the equivalent resistance of two identical resistors in parallel is R/2, giving I_total = V/(R/2) = 2V/R, which again is twice the current in one resistor.

In a parallel circuit, the same voltage drives each resistor, so the current through each identical resistor is I = V/R. The currents in parallel add, so the total current from the source is I_total = I + I = 2I. This means the total current is twice the current through one resistor. You can also see this by noting the equivalent resistance of two identical resistors in parallel is R/2, giving I_total = V/(R/2) = 2V/R, which again is twice the current in one resistor.