Define the term “voltage drop.”

Voltage drop refers to the reduction in voltage that occurs in an electrical circuit as electrical energy is used by the load. This phenomenon typically happens due to the inherent resistance of the conductors and any other components in the circuit. As current flows through the circuit from the voltage source to the load, energy is lost in the form of heat due to resistance, leading to a lower voltage at the load compared to the voltage supplied by the source.

Understanding voltage drop is essential for ensuring that electrical systems operate efficiently and safely. If the voltage drop is too significant, it can affect the performance of electrical devices, leading to inadequate operation or damage.

The other options do not accurately capture the specific definition of voltage drop: the increase in voltage across an electrical component does not pertain to voltage loss; the difference in voltage between two points in a circuit may not convey the concept of loss, and the total voltage applied to a circuit simply describes the source voltage without any implications of how that voltage changes as it moves through the circuit.