Voltage in Parallel Circuits
3. Everyone Gets the Same
Now, picture a parallel circuit like a multi-lane highway where each lane leads to a different destination (component). You can choose any lane you want, and the toll (voltage) is the same regardless of which lane you pick. That’s the essence of a parallel circuit — the voltage across each component is the same.
Think of it this way: each component is directly connected to the positive and negative terminals of the power source. Therefore, each component “sees” the full voltage of the source, independent of the other components. It doesn’t matter if one lane has a tiny toll booth or a huge, sprawling one, the price is always the same.
This is a crucial difference from series circuits. While the current divides in a parallel circuit, the voltage remains constant. This is why, for example, your home’s electrical wiring is primarily parallel. If one appliance fails, it doesn’t affect the voltage supplied to the others.
So, in a parallel circuit, Vtotal = V1 = V2 = V3 = … where Vtotal is the total voltage, and V1, V2, V3, and so on, are the voltage drops across each component (which are all equal).