DESIGN PROBLEMS

1. If the circuit is connected from a 12v DC supply and the equivalent resistance

of the current circuit is 60 ohms. What value of resistor(s) must be connected in series
into the circuit to have a current of 0.15A? 
VT = 12 V R1 = 60 Ω IT = 0.15 A

2. If the circuit is connected from a 12v DC supply and the equivalent resistance

of the current circuit is 60 ohms. What value of resistor(s) must be connected in parallel
into the circuit to have a total current of 0.60A? 

PROBLEMS
 1. Three resistors of 10, 12 and "x" ohms, respectively are connected in
parallel across a constant current source of 8A. Determine “x" if this resistors draws 2.5
A. 
R1 = 10Ω I1 = 8A
R2 = 12Ω Ix = 2.5 A
RX =
R1 R 2 (10 )( 12 )
R= = =5.4545Ω
R1 + R2 ( 10+12 )
I 1 (R)
Ix=
R x+ R
I 1 (R) ( 8 ) ( 5.4545 )
Rx= −R= −5.4545Ω
Ix 2.5
Rx = 12 Ω

2. Two lamps need 50v and 2A each in order to operate at a desired

brilliancy. They are to be connected in series across an 110v line. What is the resistance
of the rheostat which must be placed in series with the lamps? 
V1 = 50v V2 = 50v
I1 = 2A I2 = 2A
V 50 V
R= =
I 2A
R1 = 25Ω R2= 25Ω
110v = 50v + 50v + v3
V 3 10 V
V3 = 10v = =5 Ω
I3 2 A
3. A 120V DC motor draws current of 100 A and is located 1000 ft from
the supply source. If the diameter of the copper transmission line is 0.45 inch, what must
be the voltage of the supply

L
R=ρ
A
A= d2
(1000 x 2)
R=10.37 =0.1024 Ω
(0.45 x 1000)2
Vs = VR + IR= 120v + 100A(0.1024Ω)
Vs = 130.24 v

4. Two rheostats of resistance 10 and 15 ohms are connected in parallel

and joined to a battery of negligible internal resistance. There is a current of 0.2A in the
10 ohm rheostat. Determine (a) the current in the 15 ohm rheostat and (b) the emf of the
battery. 
R1 = 10 Ω
R2 = 15 Ω
I1 = 0.2 A
a). Current
V 2v
I= = =0.1333 A
R 15 Ω
b). Voltage
V= IR (0.2A)(10Ω)= 2v
5. An 18 Ω toaster, 11 Ω electric frying pan and 14Ω coffee maker are
connected in parallel across a 120v line. (a) What is the current through each
appliance? (b) If a household circuit could carry a maximum current of 15A, would it
be able to run the entire appliance at the same time?
R1 = 18Ω
R2 = 11Ω
R3 = 14Ω
V= 120v
V 120 v
I 1= = =6.6667 A
R 1 18 Ω
V 120 v
I 2= = =10.9091 A
R 2 11Ω
V 120 v
I 3= = =8.5714 A
R 3 18 Ω

IT = 6.6667A + 10.9091A + 8.5714A

IT = 26.1472A
b). No, because IT > Imax

6. Five 46Ω strip heaters are wired in parallel. (a) How much current does
each heater draw from a 120v line? (b) How much current do they draw all together? 

V 120 v
I= = =2.6087 A
R 46Ω

I x 5 = 2.6087 x 5 = 13.039A

CIRCUIT DESIGN
1. Suppose a circuit is to be connected to a 12v DC supply, design a circuit to
have a total current of 0.1901A across the circuit. The sum of the voltage of the first two
resistors is equal to the total voltage. The voltage across the third resistor is equal to the
difference of the second and the fourth resistor, while the total current is equal to the
summation of current across second and third resistor. The current across the fifth resistor
is the difference of between the current in the third and the fourth resistors. The voltage
across the first resistor is 9.505v and the voltage across the fifth resistor is 1.426v, and is
equal to the fourth resistor. The total current is equal to the current on the first
resistor. The current on the third resistor is 0.1069A and the current on the fifth resistor is
0.356A. 

PROBLEMS

1. As one turns on more lamps in an ordinary household circuit, what happens to

the current in the first lamp? To the line current? To the line voltage? Why is it not
customary to connect household electric lamps in series?