In a series circuit, which statement is true?

• A. The current through each component is the same.
• B. The voltage drop across each component is the same.
• C. The total resistance is the product of the individual resistances.
• D. The power dissipated is the same for each component.

Answer: (A)

In a series circuit, the current through every component is the same because there is only one path for the charge to flow. The same amount of current that leaves one element must enter the next, so the current cannot change as it moves through each component.

Ohm’s law ties voltage, current, and resistance together. With a single current flowing through all components, the voltage drop across each one depends on its resistance: V = I R. So components with higher resistance take a larger share of the total voltage, while lower-resistance parts drop less, even though the current is the same everywhere.

The total resistance in a series circuit is the sum of the individual resistances, not their product. Because the current is the same through all elements, the total resistance adds up to determine the overall current for a given supply.

Power dissipated by each component is P = I^2 R. Since the current is the same throughout, the power depends on each component’s resistance; different resistances generally mean different power dissipations, even though the current is the same.