[Physics] If components of differing resistance are wired in parallel, how does a common voltage drop arise

electric-circuitsvoltage

I've been teaching myself DC electronics as a hobby and, although I have a feeling i'm "missing something obvious", I was wondering if someone could help me out. If two components of differing resistance are wired in series, they likewise drop different voltages; yet when they are wired in parallel they apparently share a single magnitude of voltage drop. I would like to better understand why a common drop is exhibited across components of differing internal resistance wired in parallel?

Best Answer

Consider a voltage source, e.g. an ideal 5V cell phone power supply. There is a 5V drop between Source and Ground.

Now put in a resistor of let's say 10kOhm between Source and Ground. The voltage drop across this resistor is 5V.

Now wire in another resistor of 10kOhm - parallel or serial does not matter for this part.

What is the voltage drop across the system of resistors? It is 5V - because that is what the source supplies.

If they are in series, it is 2.5V over the first, and then 2.5V over the second, for a total drop of 5V.

If they are in parallel, it is 5V over the both of them because the source creates a 5V voltage across the both of them. Wire in any number of resistors in parallel and the voltage across them will stay 5V because "The voltage across them" is the voltage of the source, which is 5V.