In a parallel circuit with three resistors, which statement is true?

In a parallel circuit with three resistors, which statement is true?

• A. The current is the same through all resistors
• B. The voltage across each resistor equals the source voltage
• C. The total resistance equals the sum of the resistances
• D. The resistance is always greater than the largest resistor

Answer: (B)

In a parallel arrangement, all components are connected across the same two nodes, so they all experience the same voltage as the source. That means each resistor has the full source voltage across it, even though the currents through them can be different. The currents split based on each resistor’s value, following Ohm’s law I = V/R, so smaller resistances draw more current while still sharing the same voltage. Why the other ideas don’t fit here: having the same current through all resistors is a feature of a series circuit, not parallel. Adding the resistances to get the total works for series, not parallel. And in parallel, the total resistance is reduced below the largest individual resistance (it’s actually less than the smallest one, unless all resistors are infinite in value), so it isn’t greater than the largest resistor.

In a parallel arrangement, all components are connected across the same two nodes, so they all experience the same voltage as the source. That means each resistor has the full source voltage across it, even though the currents through them can be different. The currents split based on each resistor’s value, following Ohm’s law I = V/R, so smaller resistances draw more current while still sharing the same voltage.

Why the other ideas don’t fit here: having the same current through all resistors is a feature of a series circuit, not parallel. Adding the resistances to get the total works for series, not parallel. And in parallel, the total resistance is reduced below the largest individual resistance (it’s actually less than the smallest one, unless all resistors are infinite in value), so it isn’t greater than the largest resistor.