Regarding current, which statement is true for series vs parallel circuits?

• A. Series = Stays the same, Parallel = Splits
• B. Series = Splits, Parallel = Stays the same
• C. Current is not defined in a circuit
• D. In both series and parallel, current splits equally

Answer: (A)

In a circuit, current behaves differently depending on the arrangement. In a series circuit, the same current flows through every component because there’s only one path for charge to take. In a parallel circuit, the current splits into the different branches, and the amount that goes through each branch depends on that branch’s resistance; the total current is the sum of all branch currents.

So the statement that series keeps the current the same and parallel splits the current accurately describes how current behaves in these two setups. The other ideas aren’t correct because current is defined in a circuit, in series it doesn’t split, and in parallel the current does split—often not equally unless the branches have equal resistance.