Which statement best describes the effect of connecting two identical batteries in parallel?

Which statement best describes the effect of connecting two identical batteries in parallel?

• A. Voltage stays the same, capacity increases
• B. Voltage increases, capacity stays the same
• C. Voltage stays the same, capacity decreases
• D. Voltage increases, capacity increases

Answer: (A)

When two identical batteries are connected in parallel, they share the same terminal voltage, so the overall voltage remains equal to the voltage of a single battery. At the same time, the available energy storage adds up, so the total capacity doubles (for identical batteries). This means you get more run time without raising the voltage. In contrast, wiring in series would increase voltage while keeping capacity the same. So the statement that best describes the effect is that voltage stays the same and capacity increases.

When two identical batteries are connected in parallel, they share the same terminal voltage, so the overall voltage remains equal to the voltage of a single battery. At the same time, the available energy storage adds up, so the total capacity doubles (for identical batteries). This means you get more run time without raising the voltage. In contrast, wiring in series would increase voltage while keeping capacity the same. So the statement that best describes the effect is that voltage stays the same and capacity increases.