Example Question #1 : Series And Parallel

A circuit has a resistor with a resistance of 3Ω followed by three parallel

branches, each holding a resistor with a resistance of 5Ω. What is the total
equivalent resitance of the circuit?

Explanation:

First, we need to calculate the equivalent resistance of the three resistors in

parallel. To do this, we will use the following equation:

1Req=∑1R=15+15+15=35

Req=53Ω

Now, to get the total equivalent resistance, we can simply add the two
remaining values, since they are in series:

Rtotal=3Ω+53Ω=143Ω
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Example Question #2 : Series And Parallel
Consider the given circuit:

A voltage is applied across points A and B so that current flows from A, to R2,
to B. What is the value of this voltage if the current through R2 is 4A?
Explanation:

First, we need to calculate the current flow through R2 without the extra
voltage attached. We will need to calculate the total equivalent resistance of
the circuit. Since the two resistors are in series, we can simply add them.

Req=R1+R2=3Ω+2Ω=5Ω

Then, we can use Ohm's law to calculate the current through the circuit:

V=IR

I=VR=12V5Ω=2.4A

Now that we have the current, we can calculate the additional current that the
new voltage contributes:

Itot=I+Inew

Inew=4A

Inew=4A−2.4A=1.6A

There is only one resistor (R2) in the path of the new voltage, so we can
calculate what that voltage needs to be to deliver the new current:

V=IR=(1.6A)(2Ω)=3.2V
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Example Question #3 : Series And Parallel

What is the effective resistance of this DC circuit?

Explanation:

First, let's remind ourselves that the effective resistance of resistors in a series
is Reff=R1+R2+... and the effective resistance of resistors in parallel
is Reff=11R1+1R2+....

Start this problem by determining the effective resistance of resistors 2, 3, and

4:

Rx=R2+R3+R4=3Ω+2Ω+1Ω=6Ω (This is because these three resistors are

in series.)

Now, the circuit can be simplified to the following:

Next, we will need to determine the effective resistance of resistors x and 6:

Ry=11Rx+1R6=116Ω+12Ω=1.5Ω

Again, the circuit can be simplified:

From here, the effective resistance of the DC circuit can be determined by

calculating the effective resistance of resistors y, 1, and 5:

Reff=R1+Ry+R5=1Ω+1.5Ω+4Ω=6.5Ω
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Example Question #4 : Series And Parallel
Two lightbulbs, one graded at 40W and one graded at 60W are connected in
series to a battery. Which one will be brighter? What if they are connected in
parallel?

Possible Answers:

Series: 60W

Parallel: 60W

Series: 40W

Parallel: 60W

Series: 40W

Parallel: 60W

There's not enough information to complete this problem

Series: 40W

Parallel: 40W

Series: 40W

Parallel: 60W

Correct answer:

Series: 40W

Parallel: 60W

Explanation:

The first step to figuring out this problem is to figure out how resistances of
light bulb correlate to the power rating. For a resistor, the power dissipated is:
P=IV=V2R

Thus, there is an inverse relationship between the resistance of the lightbulb

and the power rating.

The second step is to take a look at circuit elements in series and in parallel.
In series, they share the same current; in parallel they share the same
voltage. Thus, for the two lightbulbs in series, the one with the higher
resistance (lower wattage) will be brighter, and for a parallel configuration the
one with the lower resistance (higher wattage) will be brighter.

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Example Question #5 : Series And Parallel
If we have 3 resistors in a series, with resistor 1 having a resistance of 5Ω,
resistor 2 having a resistance of 10Ω, and resistor 3 having a resistance
of 15Ω, what is the equivalent resistance of the series?

Explanation:

The total resistance of resistors in a series is the sum of their individual

resistances. In this case,

Rtot=R1+R2+...+Rn

Rtot=5Ω+10Ω+15Ω=30Ω
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Example Question #6 : Series And Parallel
You are presented with three resistors, each measure 3Ω. What is the
difference between the total resistance of the resistors combined in series,
and the total resistance of the resistors combined in parallel?

Possible Answers:

1Ω

0Ω

9Ω
6Ω

8Ω

Correct answer:

8Ω

Explanation:

Resistors in series:

Rs=R1+R2+R3

Rs=3Ω+3Ω+3Ω

Rs=9Ω

Resistors in parallel:

1Rp=1R1+1R2+1R3

1Rp=13Ω+13Ω+13Ω

1Rp=33Ω

Rp=1Ω

Rs−Rp=8Ω
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Example Question #7 : Series And Parallel
What is the total resistance of three resistors, 100Ω, 10Ω, and 1Ω, in parallel?

Possible Answers:

1.1Ω

0.9Ω
111Ω

9.0Ω

11.1Ω

Correct answer:

0.9Ω

Explanation:

The equation for equivalent resistance for multiple resistors in parallel is:

1Req=1R1+1R2+...+1Rn

Plug in known values and solve.

1Req=1100Ω+110Ω+11Ω

1Req=111100Ω

Req=0.9Ω

Notice that for resistors in parallel, the total resistance is never greater than
the resistance of the smallest element.

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Example Question #1 : Series And Parallel

A circuit is created using a battery and 3 identical resistors, as shown in the

figure. Each of the resistors has a resistance of 100Ω. If resistor R3 is
removed from the circuit, what will be the effect on the current through
resistor R1?

Possible Answers:

The current through R1 will increase by a factor of four

The current through R1 will decrease

Cannot be determined without knowing the resistivity of the wire

The current through R1 will remain the same

The current through R1 will increase by a factor of two

Correct answer:

The current through R1 will decrease

Explanation:

Since the resistors R2 and R3 form a parallel network, removing R3 from the
circuit increases the resistance of that part of the circuit. Because the new
circuit is the series combination of R1 and R2, the increased resistance leads
to lower current in each of these resistors.

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Example Question #9 : Series And Parallel
Determine the total charge stored by a circuit with 2 identical parallel-plate
capacitors in parallel with area 5m2, and a distance of 2μm between the
parallel plates. Assume the space between the parallel plates is a vacuum. The
circuit shows a voltage difference of 10V.

ϵo=8.85∗10−12Fm

Explanation:
To determine total charge stored, we need to add up the capacitance of each
capacitor(because they are capacitors in parallel) and multiply by the voltage
difference. Recall that for capacitors,

Q=CΔV

For parallel plate capacitors:

C=kϵoAd

Here, ϵo=8.85∗10−12Fm, which is the permittivity of empty space, k is the

dielectric constant, which is 1 since there is only vacuum present, A=5m2,
which is the area of the parallel plates, and d=2∗10−6m, which is the distant
between the plates.

Plug in known values to solve for capacitance.

C=1∗8.85∗10−12Fm∗5m22∗10−6m=4.43∗10−11Fm2∗10−6m

C=2.21∗10−5F

Each of the two capacitors has capacitance Ccapacitor=2.21∗10−5F

Since the capacitors are in parallel, the total capacitance is the sum of each
individual capacitance. The total capacitance in the circuit Ccircuit is given by:

Ccircuit=2∗Ccapacitance=2∗2.21∗10−5F=4.42∗10−5F

Plug this value into our first equation and solve for the total charge stored.

Qcircuit=Ccircuit∗ΔV, where Qcircuit is the total charge stored in the capacitor.

Since ΔV=10V

Qcircuit=4.42∗10−5F∗10V=4.42∗10−4C
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Example Question #10 : Series And Parallel
What is the total current I flowing through a system with 2 resistors in parallel
with resistances of 2Ω and 5Ω, and a battery with voltage difference of 10V?
Possible Answers:
Explanation:

First we need to determine the overall resistance of the circuit before we know
how much current is flowing through. Since the resistors are in parallel, their
resistances will add reciprocally:

12Ω+15Ω=1R

where R is the total resistance of the circuit.

710Ω=1R

107Ω=R

Now that we've solved for R, we know that the current I flowing through the
circuit can be found using Ohm's law:

I=VR=10V107Ω=7A

EXAMPLE 1.
Five resistors are connected in the configuration as shown in the figure. Calculate
the equivalent resistance between the points a and b.

Solution
Case (a)
To find the equivalent resistance between the points a and b, we assume that
current is entering the junction a. Since all the resistances in the outside loop are
the same (1Ω), the current in the branches ac and ad must be equal. So the electric
potential at the point c and d is the same hence no current flows into 5 Ω
resistance. It implies that the 5 Ω has no role in determining the equivalent
resistance and it can be removed. So the circuit is simplified as shown in the
figure.

The equivalent resistance of the circuit between a and b is Req = 1Ω

EXAMPLE 2.
Calculate the equivalent resistance between A and B in the given circuit.
Solution
Resistors in Series and Parallel Example 3.
Find the equivalent resistance, REQ for the following resistor combination
circuit.

Again, at first glance this resistor ladder network may seem a complicated
task, but as before it is just a combination of series and parallel resistors
connected together. Starting from the right hand side and using the simplified
equation for two parallel resistors, we can find the equivalent resistance of
the R8 to R10 combination and call it RA.
RA is in series with R7 therefore the total resistance will be RA + R7 = 4 + 8 =
12Ω as shown.

This resistive value of 12Ω is now in parallel with R6 and can be calculated
as RB.

RB is in series with R5 therefore the total resistance will be RB + R5 = 4 + 4 =

8Ω as shown.

This resistive value of 8Ω is now in parallel with R4 and can be calculated

as RC as shown.
RC is in series with R3 therefore the total resistance will be RC + R3 = 8Ω as
shown.

This resistive value of 8Ω is now in parallel with R2 from which we can

calculated RD as:

RD is in series with R1 therefore the total resistance will be RD + R1 = 4 + 6 =

10Ω as shown.

Then the complex combinational resistive network above comprising of ten

individual resistors connected together in series and parallel combinations can
be replaced with just one single equivalent resistance ( REQ ) of value 10Ω.
EXAMPLE 2.8
Calculate the equivalent resistance for the circuit which is connected to 24 V
batteries and also find the potential difference across 4 Ω and 6 Ω resistors in the
circuit.

Solution
Since the resistors are connected in series, the effective resistance in the circuit
= 4 Ω + 6 Ω = 10 Ω
The Current I in the circuit= V/ Req = 24/10 = 2 .4 A
Voltage across 4Ω resistor
V1 = IR1 = 2 . 4 A× 4 Ω = 9.6V
Voltage across 6 Ω resistor
V2 = IR1 = 2 . 4 A× 6 Ω =14 .4V
EXAMPLE 2.9
Calculate the equivalent resistance in the following circuit and also find the current
I, I1 and I2 in the given circuit.

Solution
Since the resistances are connected in parallel, therefore, the equivalent resistance
in the circuit is

The resistors are connected in parallel, the potential (voltage) across each resistor
is the same.

The current I is the total of the currents in the two branches. Then,
I = I1 + I2= 6 A + 4 A = 10 A