1. **Problem:** If the voltage $V$ is halved, how is the electric power $P$ affected given the formula $$P = \frac{V^2}{R}$$ 2. **Formula and rules:** Power depends on the square of voltage. If voltage changes, power changes by the square of that factor. 3. **Calculation:** Let the original voltage be $V$. New voltage is $\frac{V}{2}$. $$P_{new} = \frac{\left(\frac{V}{2}\right)^2}{R} = \frac{\frac{V^2}{4}}{R} = \frac{V^2}{4R}$$ 4. **Simplify:** $$P_{new} = \frac{1}{4} \times \frac{V^2}{R} = \frac{1}{4} P$$ 5. **Interpretation:** The new power is one quarter of the original power. **Final answer:** The electric power would be a quarter of what it was (Option D).