In a parallel circuit, if one resistor fails, what happens to the total current?
Practice Questions
Q1
In a parallel circuit, if one resistor fails, what happens to the total current?
It increases.
It decreases.
It remains the same.
It becomes zero.
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
In a parallel circuit, if one resistor fails, what happens to the total current?
Correct Answer: Total current decreases
Step 1: Understand what a parallel circuit is. In a parallel circuit, there are multiple paths for current to flow.
Step 2: Know that each resistor in a parallel circuit provides a separate path for current.
Step 3: If one resistor fails (like it breaks or is removed), that path for current is lost.
Step 4: With one path gone, the total resistance of the circuit increases because there are fewer paths for the current to flow through.
Step 5: When the total resistance increases, the total current flowing through the circuit decreases according to Ohm's Law (I = V/R, where I is current, V is voltage, and R is resistance).
Step 6: Therefore, when one resistor fails in a parallel circuit, the total current decreases.
