52.  The drawing shows three different resistors in two different circuits. The battery has a voltage of V = 24.0 V, and the resistors have values of R1 = 50.0 Ω, R2 = 25.0 Ω, and

R3 = 10.0 Ω. (a) For the circuit on the left, determine the current through and the voltage across each resistor. (b) Repeat part (a) for the circuit on the right.

 

w1020

 

Circuit (a) is a series circuit so the current is the same through all three resistors and is the total current through circuit which we can find from Ohm’s law.

 

 

 

Now we find the voltages across each resistor also using Ohm’s law.  This time use this form

 

 

 

 

Check

 

Minor rounding error as current not exactly 0.282 A.

 

Circuit (b) is a parallel circuit so the Voltage across each resistor is the same as the power source so

 

Now we find the current through each resistor also using Ohm’s law.  This time use this form

 

 

 

 

For Circuit (a):

For Circuit (b):

 

 

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

This page last updated on June 17, 2018