In a parallel circuit, which statement is true about current and voltage?

• A. The voltage across all branches is the same, and the currents in each branch add up.
• B. The currents are the same in all branches, and voltages differ between branches.
• C. The voltage across different branches varies with branch impedance.
• D. The total current is fixed and does not depend on branch count.

Answer: (C)

In a parallel circuit, all branches share the same voltage because they’re connected across the same two nodes. The current in each branch depends on that branch’s impedance: I_branch = V / R_branch. So branches can carry different currents if their resistances differ, with lower resistance drawing more current. The total current from the source is the sum of all branch currents. Because you can add more parallel paths or change their resistances, the total current is not fixed—it changes with the parallel network. The idea that the voltage varies between branches is not correct for a parallel circuit, and the currents are not necessarily the same in every branch.