Get ready for the NCEA Level 1 Energy Test. Utilize flashcards and multiple choice questions with clear explanations and hints. Prepare for success!

Multiple Choice

In a parallel circuit, the voltage across each branch is what?

In a parallel circuit, every branch is connected directly across the same two points of the power source, so they all share the same potential difference. The source fixes the voltage, and that fixed voltage appears across every branch regardless of how many branches there are or how each branch’s resistance varies. The current can differ from branch to branch because it depends on each branch’s resistance (I = V/R), but the voltage across each branch remains equal to the supply voltage. This is why the correct idea is that the voltage is the same across all branches.

In a parallel circuit, every branch is connected directly across the same two points of the power source, so they all share the same potential difference. The source fixes the voltage, and that fixed voltage appears across every branch regardless of how many branches there are or how each branch’s resistance varies. The current can differ from branch to branch because it depends on each branch’s resistance (I = V/R), but the voltage across each branch remains equal to the supply voltage. This is why the correct idea is that the voltage is the same across all branches.