What is the relationship between current and voltage in a parallel circuit?

In a parallel circuit, voltage remains constant across all components connected within the same branch. This consistent voltage across different branches is a fundamental principle of parallel circuits, leading to the conclusion that current can vary depending on the resistance of each branch. According to Ohm's Law, which states that current equals voltage divided by resistance (I = V/R), different resistances in parallel can cause current to flow in varying amounts. Therefore, while voltage remains the same across each component, the current can change based on the resistance involved in each pathway.

This characteristic allows parallel circuits to have different devices operate independently; if one device is added or removed, the voltage remains the same, but the current through that branch will adjust according to the new total resistance.