if one resistor is removed from a parallel circuit, the total current will
1) decrease
b) increase
c) remain the same and the current
flowing through each of the remaining branches ____________________.
okay so the total current will decrease, but what about the second part?
and the current flowing through each of the remaining branches ____.
does it remain the same????
of course it remains the same in each resistor.
To answer the question, we need to understand the behavior of resistors in a parallel circuit.
In a parallel circuit, multiple branches are formed, and each branch has its own resistor. When resistors are connected in parallel, the voltage across each resistor is the same, but the current flowing through each resistor can be different.
Now, let's consider the scenario where one resistor is removed from the parallel circuit.
When a resistor is removed, the total resistance of the circuit decreases because there is one less path for the current to flow. According to Ohm's Law (V = I * R), with a lower total resistance, the current flowing through the circuit will increase. So, the correct answer is b) increase.
Now, regarding the second part of the question, which asks about the current flowing through each of the remaining branches.
Since the total current has increased (as explained above), it means that more current is available to flow through the remaining branches. However, the current distribution among the branches is determined by the resistance in each branch.
In a parallel circuit, the branches with lower resistance will allow more current while the branches with higher resistance will allow less current. So, after removing one resistor, the current flowing through each of the remaining branches can change. If the removed resistor had a higher resistance compared to the other branches, its removal would cause a redistribution of the current, resulting in more current flowing through the other branches.
Therefore, the current flowing through each of the remaining branches may not remain the same. It will depend on the resistance values of the remaining branches and how they compare to the resistance of the removed resistor.