Which statement about voltage in parallel circuits is true?

Which statement about voltage in parallel circuits is true?

• A. The voltage across each branch equals the cell voltage
• B. The voltage is divided across branches
• C. The voltage is zero
• D. The voltage is always greater than cell voltage

Answer: (A)

In a parallel circuit, all branches are connected directly across the same two nodes, so every branch experiences the same potential difference as the source. That means the voltage across each branch equals the cell voltage. The currents in the branches may differ depending on each branch’s resistance, but the voltage remains the same across all branches. The other ideas aren’t correct because the voltage isn’t divided among branches, it isn’t zero when the circuit is connected, and it isn’t greater than the cell voltage in an ideal setup.

In a parallel circuit, all branches are connected directly across the same two nodes, so every branch experiences the same potential difference as the source. That means the voltage across each branch equals the cell voltage. The currents in the branches may differ depending on each branch’s resistance, but the voltage remains the same across all branches. The other ideas aren’t correct because the voltage isn’t divided among branches, it isn’t zero when the circuit is connected, and it isn’t greater than the cell voltage in an ideal setup.