What happens to the total resistance in a parallel circuit when more resistors are added?

When additional resistors are added to a parallel circuit, the total resistance decreases. This occurs due to the nature of parallel connections, where each added resistor provides an alternative pathway for the current to flow.

In a parallel circuit, the formula for calculating total resistance is given by the reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocals of each individual resistor's resistance. As more resistors are added, the denominator in this calculation grows—resulting in a larger sum in the denominator, which consequently reduces the overall value of the total resistance.

This characteristic is key in applications where resistance needs to be minimized, such as in power distribution systems and circuit designs that require lower voltage drops. When resistors are added in parallel, the overall effect is an increase in current flow capacity, as the circuit effectively becomes more conductive.