To find the total current supplied by a battery, what should you do?

The total current supplied by a battery can be determined by adding all the currents from each component connected in the circuit. In electrical circuits, the current supplied by the battery is distributed among various components (like resistors, LEDs, or motors) based on their resistance or impedance.

When analyzing a series circuit, the same current flows through all components, so measuring that current will give you the total current supplied by the battery. In parallel configurations, the total current is the sum of the currents through each branch. Therefore, by adding up all individual currents flowing through the components, one effectively captures the complete picture of the total current output from the battery.

This approach aligns with Kirchhoff's current law, which states that the total current entering a junction must equal the total current leaving that junction. Thus, summing the currents allows for a clear and straightforward determination of the total current supplied by the battery in any circuit configuration.