What remains constant across all parallel branches?

What remains constant across all parallel branches?

• A. Voltage
• B. Current
• C. Power
• D. Resistance

Answer: (A)

In parallel circuits, the voltage across each branch stays the same because all branches are connected to the same two nodes. That fixed potential difference comes from the source, so every branch experiences the same voltage drop regardless of how many branches there are or what each branch’s resistance is. Currents split among the branches according to each branch’s resistance (I = V/R), so they can be different from one branch to another, even though the voltage is identical across them. The total current is the sum of the branch currents, and the overall (equivalent) resistance changes as you add branches, but the voltage across each branch remains equal to the source voltage. For a quick check, with a 12 V source feeding two branches of 6 Ω and 3 Ω, each branch has 12 V across it, with currents of 2 A and 4 A, totaling 6 A from the source.

In parallel circuits, the voltage across each branch stays the same because all branches are connected to the same two nodes. That fixed potential difference comes from the source, so every branch experiences the same voltage drop regardless of how many branches there are or what each branch’s resistance is. Currents split among the branches according to each branch’s resistance (I = V/R), so they can be different from one branch to another, even though the voltage is identical across them. The total current is the sum of the branch currents, and the overall (equivalent) resistance changes as you add branches, but the voltage across each branch remains equal to the source voltage. For a quick check, with a 12 V source feeding two branches of 6 Ω and 3 Ω, each branch has 12 V across it, with currents of 2 A and 4 A, totaling 6 A from the source.