Final answer:
For resistors in series, the voltage across each is the total voltage divided by the number of resistors; for resistors in parallel, each resistor has the total voltage across it.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering a circuit of four resistors, the voltage across individual resistors depends on whether the resistors are wired in series or parallel. For resistors in series, the total voltage across the circuit is the sum of the voltages across each resistor. Since the resistors are of equal resistance and the total voltage is 17 V, the voltage across each resistor in the series would be 17 V divided by 4, which is 4.25 V.
In the case of resistors in parallel, the voltage across each resistor is the same as the total voltage applied to the parallel network. Therefore, no matter how many resistors are in parallel, if the total voltage is 17 V, the voltage across each parallel resistor is also 17 V.
To apply this knowledge, we may use Ohm's Law, which relates the voltage (V), current (I), and resistance (R) in a circuit, given by V = IR. Applying this law will provide the needed voltage across each individual resistor.