Cathodic Protection Tester Practice Exam

In series circuits, what condition must be met regarding voltage?

1. Voltage drop must equal zero.

2. Voltage varies across each component.

3. Voltage must be the same across all components.

4. Voltage must add up to equal the total resistance.

The correct answer is: Voltage must be the same across all components.

In series circuits, the key principle is that the total voltage supplied by the power source is distributed across each component in the circuit. Therefore, it is essential to understand that the total voltage is equal to the sum of the individual voltage drops across each component. This means that the voltage drops that occur across each component in the series must collectively add up to the total supply voltage. This distribution occurs because, in a series configuration, the same current flows through all components. As a result, each component will have a different voltage drop, depending on its resistance. Consequently, the correct condition for voltage in a series circuit is that voltage varies across each component, meaning each one will have its specific voltage drop related to its resistance. Thus, while it's true that the voltage does indeed add up to equal the total voltage supplied by the circuit, stating that it "must be the same across all components" does not accurately depict the nature of voltage behavior in series circuits. Each component will have its unique voltage drop based on the current flow and its resistance, leading to the conclusion that the total supply voltage equals the sum of the individual voltage drops. Hence, the correct understanding emphasizes that the total voltage is equal to the sum of the various components' voltage drops, rather