When resistors are connected in parallel, what happens to the overall current?

When resistors are connected in parallel, each resistor provides a separate pathway for the current to flow. This configuration reduces the overall resistance of the circuit. According to Ohm's Law, when the overall resistance decreases while the voltage across the circuit remains the same, the overall current increases.

The total current entering the parallel circuit is the sum of the currents flowing through each individual resistor. Since each pathway is independent, the total current can be greater than the current through any single resistor. Therefore, in a parallel connection, as more resistors are added, the overall current increases due to the additional paths available for charge to flow.

This concept is often illustrated with the formula for total resistance in parallel circuits: ( \frac{1}{R_{total}} = \frac{1}{R_1} + \frac{1}{R_2} + ... ), which shows that the total resistance decreases as more resistors are added. Thus, the correct answer indicates that the overall current increases when resistors are connected in parallel.