In a parallel circuit with two identical resistors, the total resistance is half the resistance of one resistor.

In a parallel circuit with two identical resistors, the total resistance is half the resistance of one resistor.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. It is the same as one resistor
• D. It doubles

Answer: (A)

In a parallel circuit, the conductances add, not the resistances. For two identical resistors of resistance R in parallel, the reciprocal of the total resistance adds: 1/Rtotal = 1/R + 1/R = 2/R, which gives Rtotal = R/2. So the total resistance is half the resistance of one resistor. This happens because having two parallel paths allows more current to flow at the same voltage, effectively lowering the overall resistance. The other statements don’t fit because a single resistor’s resistance isn’t maintained when adding a parallel path, and the total resistance doesn’t double in parallel.

In a parallel circuit, the conductances add, not the resistances. For two identical resistors of resistance R in parallel, the reciprocal of the total resistance adds: 1/Rtotal = 1/R + 1/R = 2/R, which gives Rtotal = R/2. So the total resistance is half the resistance of one resistor. This happens because having two parallel paths allows more current to flow at the same voltage, effectively lowering the overall resistance. The other statements don’t fit because a single resistor’s resistance isn’t maintained when adding a parallel path, and the total resistance doesn’t double in parallel.