A Level Physics Practice Exam

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Study for the A Level Physics Exam. Our quiz features flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Prepare thoroughly!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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How is the current distributed in a parallel circuit?

It is the same in all branches
It is split equally among branches
It can vary in each branch
It accumulates at each branch

The correct answer is: It can vary in each branch

In a parallel circuit, the key point is that the total current supplied by the source gets divided among the various branches of the circuit. The current flowing through each branch can vary based on the resistance of that branch, following Ohm's law. Specifically, if one branch has a lower resistance compared to another, a larger portion of the total current will flow through the branch with the lower resistance. Hence, each branch can have a different amount of current depending on its specific characteristics. This variability in branch currents is fundamentally what describes current distribution in parallel circuits, making the answer correct. In scenarios where multiple resistors are used in parallel, the total current into the circuit is equal to the sum of the currents flowing through each resistor, but individual currents can differ significantly based on their resistances.