What happens to voltage in a circuit if the path is open?

When a circuit is open, there is a break in the path through which electrical current flows. As a result, no current can move through the circuit. According to Ohm's law, which states that voltage (V) is equal to current (I) multiplied by resistance (R), if the current is zero—because there is no continuous path for it to flow—then the voltage across the open part of the circuit is effectively not exerting any electrical force. This leads to the conclusion that the voltage drops to zero where the circuit is open.

In contrast, if the path were closed and current was flowing, voltage would be present depending on the resistance in the circuit. An open circuit doesn't have paths for current to flow, leading to a complete absence of voltage in that segment. Hence, this choice reflects the accurate understanding of the behavior of voltage in an open circuit condition.