Meters and troubleshootingQuestion 712 of 1506

A circuit has a fixed source voltage. One resistor in a series-parallel network fails and its resistance decreases. What happens to the total current?

  1. It falls to zero
  2. It stays the same
  3. It decreases
  4. It rises
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Correct answer: It rises

Total resistance decreases and the voltage is constant, so I = E/R goes up.

Source: Lessons in Electric Circuits I: DC (Kuphaldt), 7.4: Component Failure Analysis (Continued)

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Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026