Which statement is true about the voltage across branches in a parallel circuit?

Which statement is true about the voltage across branches in a parallel circuit?

• A. It varies with branch resistance
• B. It is the same across each branch
• C. It is zero
• D. It is twice the source voltage

Answer: (B)

In a parallel circuit, each branch is connected across the same two points, so they all share the same potential difference. The voltage across every branch equals the source voltage (assuming ideal wires and source). The current in each branch may differ because it depends on each branch’s resistance (I = V/R), but the voltage across every branch stays the same. For example, with a 9 V source, each branch experiences 9 V, while currents add up across branches to give the total current. The other statements don’t fit: the voltage isn’t determined by branch resistance, it isn’t zero unless the source is zero, and it isn’t twice the source voltage.

In a parallel circuit, each branch is connected across the same two points, so they all share the same potential difference. The voltage across every branch equals the source voltage (assuming ideal wires and source). The current in each branch may differ because it depends on each branch’s resistance (I = V/R), but the voltage across every branch stays the same. For example, with a 9 V source, each branch experiences 9 V, while currents add up across branches to give the total current. The other statements don’t fit: the voltage isn’t determined by branch resistance, it isn’t zero unless the source is zero, and it isn’t twice the source voltage.