In a parallel lighting circuit, if one of the three bulbs is removed, what happens to the total resistance?

In a parallel lighting circuit, if one of the three bulbs is removed, what happens to the total resistance?

• A. It increases
• B. It decreases
• C. It stays the same
• D. It becomes zero

Answer: (A)

In a parallel circuit, the total resistance depends on how many separate paths for current exist. Each extra path lowers the overall resistance because current has more routes to flow through. For three identical bulbs in parallel, the combined resistance is one-third of a single bulb’s resistance. If one bulb is removed, only two paths remain, so the total resistance becomes one-half of a single bulb’s resistance, which is higher than the three-path case. So the total resistance increases. It wouldn’t decrease, stay the same, or become zero as long as at least one path remains.

In a parallel circuit, the total resistance depends on how many separate paths for current exist. Each extra path lowers the overall resistance because current has more routes to flow through. For three identical bulbs in parallel, the combined resistance is one-third of a single bulb’s resistance. If one bulb is removed, only two paths remain, so the total resistance becomes one-half of a single bulb’s resistance, which is higher than the three-path case. So the total resistance increases. It wouldn’t decrease, stay the same, or become zero as long as at least one path remains.