The correct answer is: A. The total current is equal to the sum of the currents for the resistance and capacitance.
In a parallel RC circuit, the current through the resistance and the current through the capacitance are both in phase with the applied voltage. The total current is therefore equal to the sum of the currents through
the resistance and the capacitance.Option B is incorrect because the current through the resistance and the current through the capacitance do not always have the same amplitude and phase. The amplitude of the current through the resistance is equal to the applied voltage divided by the resistance, while the amplitude of the current through the capacitance is equal to the applied voltage divided by the capacitance. The phase of the current through the resistance is zero, while the phase of the current through the capacitance is equal to the inverse of the capacitance times the frequency of the applied voltage.
Option C is incorrect because the total current is not always less than the sum of the currents for the resistance and capacitance. The total current is equal to the sum of the currents for the resistance and the capacitance, so the total current can be greater than, equal to, or less than the sum of the currents for the resistance and the capacitance, depending on the values of the resistance and the capacitance.
Option D is incorrect because
the total current is not always greater than the sum of the currents for the resistance and capacitance. The total current is equal to the sum of the currents for the resistance and the capacitance, so the total current can be greater than, equal to, or less than the sum of the currents for the resistance and the capacitance, depending on the values of the resistance and the capacitance.Option E is incorrect because the total current is equal to the sum of the currents for the resistance and the capacitance.