The total voltage across a series circuit is equal to the sum of what?

In a series circuit, the total voltage is the sum of the individual voltage drops across each component connected in the series. This relationship is a direct consequence of Kirchhoff's Voltage Law, which states that the total voltage around a closed loop must equal zero. Therefore, when you add up the voltage drops across each resistor or load in the series, you get the total voltage supplied by the source.

Each component in the series circuit will have a voltage drop that corresponds to the current flowing through it and its resistance, as dictated by Ohm’s Law (V = I × R). Thus, the collective voltage drops from each component will add up to the total voltage provided by the power source, confirming that the correct answer is that the total voltage across a series circuit is equal to the sum of the individual voltage drops.