Which of the following statements is true about the total voltage in a parallel circuit?

In a parallel circuit, each component is connected directly to the voltage source. This means that all branches share the same potential difference. As a result, the total voltage across the parallel branches is equal to the voltage provided by the source. This is why statement B is correct: the total voltage is indeed the same as the applied voltage.

In contrast, other statements do not accurately represent the behavior of voltage in parallel circuits. For instance, the total voltage cannot be less than the smallest branch voltage; doing so would contradict the fundamental principle that all branches see the full source voltage. Additionally, the assertion that total voltage is divided evenly among branches does not apply, as each branch can have different voltages across them depending on their resistance or impedance. As for the statement regarding the total voltage exceeding the applied voltage, this violates Kirchhoff's voltage law, which states that the sum of the voltage changes around any closed loop in a circuit must equal zero. Therefore, the total voltage in a parallel circuit can never exceed the applied voltage, but the essence of this statement reinforces that the total voltage is specifically equal to the applied voltage.