How much current does the battery supply to the circuit shown? A 6 V battery connected across three resistors in parallel, R1 = 12 Ω, R2 = 6 Ω and R3 = 4 Ω, each on its own branch.

How much current does the battery supply to the…

How much current does the battery supply to the circuit shown?

MediumOriginal question

How much current does the battery supply to the circuit shown?

0.5 ACorrect answerYour answer1 ACorrect answerYour answer1.5 ACorrect answerYour answer3 ACorrect answerYour answer

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CorrectNot quiteAnswer D

Correct answer: D

In parallel each resistor has the full 6 V across it.
Branch currents: 6 ÷ 12 = 0.5 A, 6 ÷ 6 = 1 A, 6 ÷ 4 = 1.5 A.
The battery supplies their sum: 0.5 + 1 + 1.5 = 3 A. (Check: equivalent resistance 2 Ω, and 6 ÷ 2 = 3 A.)

Worth noting

0.5 A, 1 A and 1.5 A are the currents in single branches, not the total drawn from the battery.

Ten questions from Everyday Physics, at your own pace.

Ten questions from Everyday Physics, at your own pace.