Question

Help required in understanding fundamentals of electricity:

Electric current always take the least resistance path. So in a parallel resistor network the current should flow only through the least resistance. Instead current gets divided between resistances.

Can anyone explain the flaw in my understanding?

Answer 1

**Electric current always take the least resistance path.**

where did you get that one from? not true.

electrons don't plan their journey using SatNav or the www. same as water doesn't plan its trip in advance through the sewage system.

think of randomly energised particles [electrons] trying their best to move. they have no idea where they are going but the electric field is making them move. charge!!! resistance is caused by the interaction of electrons [flowing from hi to low potential energy] with atoms/ions and with each other.

Answer 2

Your thinking is flawed in that you think all the current will go thru the lowest value resistor, you are close, but the other parallel resistors of higher value will also have current flowing through them but of lesser value Use Ohm's law to determine the amount of current flow.