Explanation: When identical power-dissipating components like resistors are connected in parallel, their individual power ratings add together to determine the total power the combination can safely dissipate. Each resistor in this scenario has a power rating of 10 watts. This means each resistor can safely convert up to 10 watts of electrical energy into heat. When two such resistors are placed in parallel, they share the total current and voltage. Since they are identical, each resistor handles a portion of the total power, and their combined capacity sums up. Therefore, two 10 W resistors in parallel can dissipate a total of 10 W + 10 W = 20 W. The 500 ohm resistance value is given to describe the resistors but doesn't directly change the additive nature of their power ratings when combined in this manner.