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What does adding more resistors in parallel do to the overall current flowing through the circuit?

  1. It decreases

  2. It increases

  3. It has no effect

  4. It depends on resistor values

The correct answer is: It increases

Adding more resistors in parallel increases the overall current flowing through the circuit. When resistors are connected in parallel, the total resistance of the circuit decreases because the current can take multiple paths. This decrease in overall resistance allows more current to flow from the power source, as per Ohm's Law (I = V/R), where I is the current, V is the voltage, and R is the total resistance. In a parallel configuration, the reciprocal of the total resistance is equal to the sum of the reciprocals of the individual resistances. Therefore, as more resistors are added, the total resistance drops further, leading to an increase in the overall current for a given voltage. This principle is fundamental in automotive electronics, where managing current flow is crucial for the function of various components.