In a parallel circuit, how does the voltage behave?

In a parallel circuit, the voltage across each branch is the same as the voltage supplied by the source. This occurs because each branch is directly connected to the same two points of the circuit, creating identical potential differences across all branches.

When components are arranged in parallel, they share the same power source, leading to uniform voltage across each path. For example, if a battery supplies 12 volts to a parallel circuit, each branch of the circuit will also have 12 volts across it, regardless of the resistances or other components present in each branch. This characteristic of voltage in parallel circuits is fundamental to understanding how they function, particularly in applications like electrical distribution systems, where various devices operate at the same voltage level.