Understanding Parallel Circuits

What is a defining characteristic of a parallel circuit?

• It has no resistors.

• It has multiple pathways for charge.

• It has a single voltage drop.

• It has only one pathway for charge.

In a parallel circuit, what happens to the overall resistance as more resistors are added?

• It remains the same.

• It doubles.

• It increases.

• It decreases.

What is true about the voltage drop across resistors in a parallel circuit?

• It is zero for each resistor.

• It is the same for each resistor.

• It is double the battery voltage.

• It varies for each resistor.

How does the current behave at a node in a parallel circuit?

• The current before the node is equal to the current after.

• The current before the node is more than after.

• The current is zero at the node.

• The current before the node is less than after.

Using the water flow analogy, what does the total flow rate before a node equal?

• The sum of the flow rates after the node.

• Half of the flow rates after the node.

• Twice the flow rates after the node.

• Zero flow rate after the node.

What is the formula for calculating equivalent resistance in parallel circuits?

• R_eq = R1 + R2 + R3

• 1/R_eq = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3

• R_eq = R1 * R2 * R3

• R_eq = R1 - R2 - R3

What happens to the equivalent resistance when two resistors of the same value are placed in parallel?

• It doubles.

• It becomes zero.

• It halves.

• It remains the same.

In a parallel circuit with identical light bulbs, what can be said about the current through each bulb?

• It is double for each bulb.

• It is the same for each bulb.

• It is different for each bulb.

• It is zero for each bulb.

Which change would increase the current at a specific location in a parallel circuit?

• Increasing the resistance of a bulb.

• Decreasing the resistance of a bulb.

• Removing a bulb from the circuit.

• Decreasing the battery voltage.

What effect does increasing the battery voltage have on the current in a parallel circuit?

• It increases the current.

• It has no effect on the current.

• It doubles the current.

• It decreases the current.