*Question G5B02:
How does the total current relate to the individual currents in a circuit of parallel resistors?*  

*Correct Answer is  C: It equals the sum of the currents through each branch*  

### AI Response: (may contain errors)  

In a circuit with parallel resistors, the total current flowing into the circuit is the sum of the currents flowing through each individual branch. This is based on Kirchhoff's Current Law, which states that the total current entering a junction must equal the total current leaving that junction.

### Correct Answer: C
- **Explanation**: The total current ($I_{total}$) in a parallel circuit is given by the formula:
  
  $$I_{total} = I_1 + I_2 + I_3 + \ldots + I_n$$

  where $I_1, I_2, I_3, \ldots, I_n$ are the currents through each branch. This means that the total current is simply the sum of the individual branch currents.

### Why the Other Choices are Incorrect:
- **A: It equals the average of the branch currents**  
  - This is incorrect because the total current is not the average; it is the sum of the currents. The average would be calculated as:
  
  $$I_{average} = \frac{I_{total}}{n}$$
  
  where $n$ is the number of branches, which does not represent the total current.

- **B: It decreases as more parallel branches are added to the circuit**  
  - This is incorrect because adding more parallel branches actually increases the total current. Each additional branch provides an alternative path for current, which can lead to a higher total current drawn from the source.

- **D: It is the sum of the reciprocal of each individual voltage drop**  
  - This is incorrect because the total current is not calculated using the reciprocal of voltage drops. Instead, the voltage across each branch in a parallel circuit is the same, and the current through each branch is determined by Ohm's Law:
  
  $$I_n = \frac{V}{R_n}$$
  
  where $V$ is the voltage across the branch and $R_n$ is the resistance of that branch.

### Summary
- The total current in a parallel circuit is the sum of the currents through each branch.
- Remember Kirchhoff's Current Law for understanding current flow in circuits.