How does the voltage across resistors in parallel compare to the voltage of the battery?

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Resistors in parallel share the same voltage across their terminals. In a parallel circuit, the voltage across each resistor is directly equal to the voltage supplied by the battery. This is because the ends of all the resistors in parallel are connected to the same two nodes in the circuit, effectively placing each resistor directly across the battery terminals.

This fundamental characteristic of parallel circuits is key to understanding how they function. The voltage does not change based on the individual resistances; instead, it remains constant and equal to the battery voltage. Thus, when analyzing a parallel circuit, you can be confident that whether you have one resistor or multiple resistors in parallel, the voltage across each of them will always equal the total voltage provided by the battery.

In contrast, factors like the values of the resistors influence the current flowing through each resistor, but the voltage across them remains constant at the battery's voltage. This concept is essential in both theoretical circuit analysis and practical applications, as it helps determine the behavior of components within a given circuit configuration.