With same orientation, the potential difference across the chain is

With same orientation, the potential difference across the chain is

• A. The smallest single voltage
• B. Zero
• C. The sum of their voltages
• D. The average of the voltages

Answer: (C)

In a chain of voltage sources connected in series with the same polarity, the end-to-end potential difference is the sum of the individual voltages. Each source adds its emf in the same direction, so the voltages stack to give a larger total. That’s why the potential difference across the whole chain equals the sum of their voltages. If the orientations were opposite, they would oppose each other and the net could be smaller or even zero, but with the same orientation you simply add them. It’s not just the smallest voltage, and it’s not an average—the voltages in series add, producing the total.

In a chain of voltage sources connected in series with the same polarity, the end-to-end potential difference is the sum of the individual voltages. Each source adds its emf in the same direction, so the voltages stack to give a larger total. That’s why the potential difference across the whole chain equals the sum of their voltages. If the orientations were opposite, they would oppose each other and the net could be smaller or even zero, but with the same orientation you simply add them. It’s not just the smallest voltage, and it’s not an average—the voltages in series add, producing the total.