Answer:
B) the potential drop is always the same across each resistor
Explanation:
Resistors are said to be in parallel if they are connected in different branches, and the end of each branch corresponds to the end of the other branches: so that, they are connected to points at same voltage. So, resistors in parallel have the same potential drop across them.
Therefore, we can analyze each statement:
A) the largest resistance has the largest current through it. --> FALSE. The current through each resistor is given by Ohm's law:
[tex]I=\frac{V}{R}[/tex]
where V is the potential drop and R the resistance. As we see, since the voltage is constant, the larger the resistance, the less the current.
B) the potential drop is always the same across each resistor. --> TRUE, for what we said above.
C) the same current always runs through each resistor. --> FALSE, for what we said in part A.
D) the power generated in each resistor is the same. --> FALSE. The power dissipated in each resistor is
[tex]P=\frac{V^2}{R}[/tex]
where V is the voltage and R the resistance; the voltage is the same for all resistors, however the resistance is not, so the power dissipated is not the same.
