In a parallel circuit, the voltage across each branch is equal to the supply voltage. Which statement is true?

In a parallel circuit, the voltage across each branch is equal to the supply voltage. Which statement is true?

• A. The currents are equal through all branches
• B. The current each branch receives is equal to the source current
• C. The voltage across each branch is the same as the source voltage
• D. The total resistance equals the sum of branch resistances

Answer: (C)

In a parallel circuit, all branches are connected across the same two nodes, so each branch experiences the same potential difference as the source. The voltage does not get divided among branches; that’s why the voltage across every branch equals the supply voltage. Currents in the branches depend on each branch’s resistance. If the branch resistances are different, the branch currents will be different; they would be equal only if all branch resistances happen to be the same. The total current drawn from the source is the sum of the currents in all branches, not the current in any single branch. Also, the total resistance of a parallel network is not the sum of the branch resistances; instead, the reciprocal of the total resistance equals the sum of the reciprocals of the branch resistances, making the overall resistance smaller than any individual branch. So, the statement that the voltage across each branch is the same as the source voltage is true.

In a parallel circuit, all branches are connected across the same two nodes, so each branch experiences the same potential difference as the source. The voltage does not get divided among branches; that’s why the voltage across every branch equals the supply voltage.

Currents in the branches depend on each branch’s resistance. If the branch resistances are different, the branch currents will be different; they would be equal only if all branch resistances happen to be the same.

The total current drawn from the source is the sum of the currents in all branches, not the current in any single branch. Also, the total resistance of a parallel network is not the sum of the branch resistances; instead, the reciprocal of the total resistance equals the sum of the reciprocals of the branch resistances, making the overall resistance smaller than any individual branch.

So, the statement that the voltage across each branch is the same as the source voltage is true.