Which type of circuit has the same voltage across each component while current adds up?

A parallel circuit is characterized by having the same voltage across each component, while the total current flowing from the source is divided among the various branches. In a parallel configuration, each component is connected directly to the voltage source, ensuring that they all receive the same voltage. This means that if you measure the voltage across any of the individual components, it will be equal to the source voltage.

Moreover, the currents in a parallel circuit are additive; the total current is the sum of the currents flowing through each individual branch. This is in accordance with Kirchhoff's current law, which states that the total current entering a junction must equal the total current leaving it. As a result, while each branch operates independently at the same voltage, the varying resistances in those branches lead to different current values, ultimately contributing to an overall current that is the sum of these individual currents.

In contrast, a series circuit would have the same current flowing through all components but would experience a voltage drop across each component, leading to a total voltage that is the sum of the individual component voltages. A mixed circuit includes elements of both series and parallel configurations, complicating the relationships between voltage and current, and an open circuit is one where no current flows due to a break in