Joshua David L.

Cantila

12-STEM C

Quarter 4 WEEK 2: Resistors and Total Resistance in Series and Parallel

1. You connect several identical light bulbs to a flashlight battery. (a) What happens to the brightness of
each bulb as more and more bulbs are added to the circuit if you connect them (i) in series and (ii) in
parallel? (b) Will the battery last longer if the bulbs are in series or in parallel? Explain your reasoning.

(a)

(i) Series

-The more bulbs added into the circuit, the less bright the bulbs will get. As the bulbs
increase, the current within the whole circuit decreases.

(ii) Parallel

- For parallel circuits, as the number of resistors increases, the overall current also
increases. The brightness of the bulbs remains the same.

(b) Batteries last longer in parallel since the voltage does not change. The same voltage is experienced
by all the bulbs. This means that the flow of current in every part of the circuit is still the same.

2. Three 7.20 Ω resistors are connected in series. Illustrate a schematic diagram for the case. What is
their equivalent resistance? Show your complete solution.
7.20 Ω

7.20 Ω

7.20 Ω

Req = R1 + R2 + R3 = 7.20 Ω + 7.20 Ω + 7.20 Ω = 21.6 Ω

3. Three resistors, with values of 2.5, 4.5 and 8.5 Ω, respectively, are connected in parallel. Illustrate a
schematic diagram for the case. What is their equivalent resistance? Show your complete solution.

2.5 Ω 4.5 Ω 8.5 Ω

1 1
= =1.35 Ω
Req = 1 1 1 1 1 1
+ + + +
R1 R 2 R 3 2.5 Ω 4.5 Ω 8.5 Ω

4. Resistors of values 6.0 Ω, 4.0 Ω, 10.0 Ω and 7.0 Ωare combined as shown. What is the equivalent
resistance for this combination?

R1=6.0 Ω , R2=4 .0 Ω , R 3=10. 0Ω , R 4=7 .0 Ω

R23=4 .0 Ω+10 .0 Ω=14.0 Ω

1 1
R234 = = =4.67 Ω
1 1 1 1
+ +
R 23 R 4 14.0 Ω 7. 0 Ω

Req =R1 + R234 =6 .0 Ω+ 4.67 .0 Ω=1 0 . 67Ω