Final answer:
If one of the branches in a parallel circuit becomes short circuited, the current in that branch will increase significantly, but the total current through the circuit will remain the same.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a parallel circuit, the branch currents are independent of each other. If one of the branches becomes short circuited, the current in that branch will increase significantly. However, the total current through the circuit will remain the same.
When a branch becomes short circuited, it creates a low resistance path for the current to flow. As a result, most of the current will flow through the shorted branch, causing a decrease in the current through the other branches. However, the total current entering the circuit is still divided among the remaining branches, so the sum of the currents in all the branches remains the same.
For example, if there are three branches in a parallel circuit and one branch becomes short circuited, the current in the shorted branch may increase to a very high value, but the currents in the other branches will decrease proportionally to maintain the total current in the circuit.