*47. ssm mmh Three resistors are connected in series across a battery. The value of each resistance and its maximum power rating are as follows: 2.0 and 4.0 W, 12.0 and 10.0 W, and 3.0 and 5.0 W.  (a) What is the greatest voltage that the battery can have without one of the resistors burning up? (b) How much power does the battery deliver to the circuit in (a)?

The current in this circuit would be found from

 

 

The power for each resistor is found from

 

 

We need to figure out what the greatest current each resistor can handle.  Solve for i

 

2.0

12.0

3.0

 

Maximum current used must be the smallest of these so the 0.913 A is max.  So now find Vs

 

 

 

To find the total power find the power in each resistor and we can verify that none of the resistors “burn up”.

 

Power for each resistor is

 

 

 

 

Total Power Supplied

 

 

 

Please send any comments or questions about this page to ddonovan@nmu.edu

This page last updated on June 14, 2018