A battery of is connected in series with resistors of , , , and , respectively. How much current would flow through the resistor?
- AOption (a)
- BOption (b)
- COption (c)
- DOption (d)
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Correct answer
Why this answer is correct
The correct answer is 0.6 A.
Key Points
- In a series circuit, the total or equivalent resistance is calculated by simply adding the individual resistances of all resistors connected in the circuit.
- The formula for equivalent resistance (R) in series is R = R1 + R2 + R3 + R4 + R5. Given the values, R = 1 Ohm + 2 Ohm + 3 Ohm + 4 Ohm + 10 Ohm, which equals 20 Ohm.
- According to Ohm's Law, the relationship between voltage (V), current (I), and resistance (R) is given by the formula V = I × R, which can be rearranged to find current as I = V / R.
- Substituting the given potential difference of 12 V and the calculated total resistance of 20 Ohm into the formula: I = 12 / 20, which results in 0.6 A.
- A fundamental characteristic of a series connection is that the current remains the same through every component in the circuit. Therefore, the current flowing through the 10 Ohm resistor is the same as the total current of the circuit, which is 0.6 A.
Additional Information
- Ohm's Law:
- Discovered by the German physicist Georg Simon Ohm in 1827, this law states that the current through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the voltage across the two points, provided physical conditions like temperature remain constant.
- The SI unit of resistance is the Ohm (Ω), named in his honor.
- Series vs. Parallel Circuits:
- In a series circuit, there is only one path for the electrons to flow. If one component fails, the entire circuit is broken. The voltage is distributed across the resistors.
- In a parallel circuit, the voltage remains the same across each branch, but the total current is the sum of the currents through each branch. The total resistance in parallel is always less than the smallest individual resistance.
- Measurement Tools:
- An Ammeter is used to measure electric current in a circuit and is always connected in series because it has very low resistance.
- A Voltmeter is used to measure the potential difference and is always connected in parallel across the points where the voltage is to be measured due to its high resistance.
Important Points
- Current Consistency: It is a common misconception that resistors with higher resistance "consume" more current in a series circuit. In reality, the 1 Ohm resistor and the 10 Ohm resistor in this setup both experience exactly 0.6 A of current.
- Voltage Drop: While the current is the same, the voltage drop across each resistor varies. Using V = I × R, the voltage drop across the 10 Ohm resistor would be 0.6 A × 10 Ohm = 6 V, which is exactly half of the total 12 V battery supply.
- Power Dissipation: The power dissipated by the 10 Ohm resistor can be calculated using P = I²R. In this case, P = (0.6)² × 10 = 0.36 × 10 = 3.6 Watts.