Automotive Electronics Practice Test

The voltage for each branch of a parallel circuit is ________.

1. Reduced by the resistance of loads in each branch

2. Equal

3. Increased by the resistance of loads in each branch

4. None of the above

The correct answer is: Equal

In a parallel circuit, each branch is connected directly across the same two points of the power supply, meaning that each branch experiences the same voltage as the source. This unique characteristic of parallel circuits ensures that regardless of the resistance in each branch, the voltage remains consistent across all branches. When resistances differ within the branches, the current in each branch may vary based on Ohm's law (I = V/R), where a lower resistance yields a higher current for a given voltage. However, the voltage experienced by each branch does not change; it remains equal to the source voltage. This fundamental principle of parallel circuits is what distinguishes them from series circuits, where the total voltage is divided among the components. Thus, it can be confidently stated that the voltage for each branch of a parallel circuit is equal.