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Series and parallel circuitsVoltage across components in a parallel circuit

Learn how to measure current and voltage and the advantages of parallel circuits.

Part of ScienceElectricity

Voltage across components in a parallel circuit

The voltage across components connected in parallel is the same as the supply voltage for each component.

Circuit with a battery, closed switch and three lamps connected in parallel. A voltmeter across the battery labelled Vs reads 12 V; a voltmeter connected across the first lamp labelled V1 reads 12 V; a voltmeter connected across the second lamp labelled V2 reads 12 V; and a voltmeter connected across the third lamp labelled V3 reads 12 V.
Figure caption,
Voltmeter circuit

For a circuit with three branches, we could write this as;

\({V_s} = {V_1} = {V_2} = {V_3} = ....\)

Question

Look at the parallel circuit below - what is the reading on the voltmeter at each location when the switch is closed?

Position 1: 0V, 3V or 6V

Position 2: 0V, 3V or 6V

Position 3: 0V, 3V or 6V

Circuit containing a switch, 6V battery and two 100 ohm resistors in parallel. Label 1 points to a voltmeter connected across the battery, marked Vs. Labels 2 and 3 point to voltmeters connected across each resistor, marked V1 and V2 respectively.

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