In a parallel resistor circuit, what effect does adding a resistor have on the total current supplied by the battery?

In a parallel resistor circuit, adding an additional resistor decreases the overall resistance of the circuit, which has a direct effect on the total current supplied by the battery. According to Ohm's Law, the total current (I) flowing through the circuit is equal to the voltage (V) of the battery divided by the total resistance (R) of the circuit, expressed as I = V/R.

When a resistor is added in parallel, it provides an additional path for current to flow. The overall equivalent resistance of the circuit is reduced because parallel resistors combine in such a way that their total resistance is always less than the smallest resistor in the group. As resistance decreases while the voltage remains constant, the total current supplied by the battery increases.

This principle illustrates how the configuration of resistors in a circuit can directly influence the current, emphasizing the importance of understanding circuit behavior when altering components within it.