What is the formula to calculate total current in a parallel circuit?

In a parallel circuit, the total current is determined by adding together the current flowing through each individual resistor or branch connected in parallel. This occurs because each branch provides a separate path for the current to flow, enabling the currents to combine at the junction leading to the power source. As a result, the total current in the circuit is the sum of all the individual currents through each resistor.

When resistors are connected in parallel, they experience the same voltage across each resistor; thus, the total current is influenced directly by how much current flows through each path based on Ohm's law. The individual currents can be calculated using the formula ( I = V/R ), where ( V ) is the voltage across the resistor and ( R ) is its resistance.

This cumulative approach is crucial for understanding how current behaves in parallel circuits, making the total current the straightforward addition of each branch’s current.