What happens to amperage when a load is added to a parallel circuit?

In a parallel circuit, when a load is added, the total current (amperage) flowing through the circuit increases. This occurs because each load connected in parallel provides an additional path for the current to flow. According to Ohm's Law and the principles governing parallel circuits, the total current in the circuit is the sum of the currents flowing through each individual branch.

To elaborate, when a new load is introduced, it draws its own current based on its resistance. Since the voltage across all branches in a parallel circuit remains the same, the addition of this new load results in more current being supplied from the power source to meet the combined demand of the existing and new loads. Therefore, the overall amperage in the circuit increases as more paths for current flow are created. This principle is foundational to understanding how electrical loads behave in parallel configurations.