Chapter 35, Problem 46A

Your friend says that electric current takes the path of least resistance. Why is it more accurate in the case of a parallel circuit to say that greatest current travels in the path of least resistance?

To determine

The reason for accuracy in current in a parallel circuit due to the flow of current from the path of least resistance.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

The flow of electron in the circuit depends on the resistance of the circuit. The resistance opposes the flow of electrons. The electrons have the tendency to flow from the path of least resistance. The more become the flow of electron for less resistance.

The path for the current through the series connection has an only single path and the current can only pass through this single path. The current should pass through the less resistance first but in the series connection, the current has to be pass from each resistance from the beginning to the end of the circuit. The current cannot go directly through the least resistance of the series connection. The current should be the same through each resistance but it does not remain the same due to heating in the circuit. So, it does not provide an accurate result.

The current has many paths to flow because the resistances are connected in parallel and the current is independent to choose the path of least resistance. The heating does not occur in the parallel connection because the current follows according to the path of least resistance in each branch of connection. The total current is the sum of individual currents of each branch.

Conclusion:

The current through the path of least resistance provides a more accurate result for parallel connection than in the series connection because there is a single path available for current flow in a series circuit and the resistance cannot go directly through the least resistance.