1. Home
  2. College physics for ap® courses
  3. Circuits, bioelectricity, and
  4. Resistors in series and parallel

21.1 Resistors in series and parallel  (Page 5/18)

<< Chapter < Page
  College physics for ap® courses     Page 5 / 18
Chapter >> Page >

Discussion for (d)

The power dissipated by each resistor is considerably higher in parallel than when connected in series to the same voltage source.

Strategy and Solution for (e)

The total power can also be calculated in several ways. Choosing P = IV size 12{P= ital "IV"} {} , and entering the total current, yields

P = IV = ( 14.92 A ) ( 12.0 V ) = 179 W . size 12{P= ital "IV"= \( "14" "." "92"" A" \) \( "12" "." 0" V" \) ="179" "." 1" W"} {}

Discussion for (e)

Total power dissipated by the resistors is also 179 W:

P 1 + P 2 + P 3 = 144 W + 24 . 0 W + 11 . 1 W = 179 W . size 12{P rSub { size 8{1} } +P rSub { size 8{2} } +P rSub { size 8{3} } ="144"" W"+"24" "." 0" W"+"11" "." 1" W"="179"" W"} {}

This is consistent with the law of conservation of energy.

Overall Discussion

Note that both the currents and powers in parallel connections are greater than for the same devices in series.

Major features of resistors in parallel

  1. Parallel resistance is found from 1 R p = 1 R 1 + 1 R 2 + 1 R 3 + . . . size 12{ { {1} over {R rSub { size 8{p} } } } = { {1} over {R rSub { size 8{1} } } } + { {1} over {R rSub { size 8{2} } } } + { {1} over {R rSub { size 8{3} } } } + "." "." "." } {} , and it is smaller than any individual resistance in the combination.
  2. Each resistor in parallel has the same full voltage of the source applied to it. (Power distribution systems most often use parallel connections to supply the myriad devices served with the same voltage and to allow them to operate independently.)
  3. Parallel resistors do not each get the total current; they divide it.

Combinations of series and parallel

More complex connections of resistors are sometimes just combinations of series and parallel. These are commonly encountered, especially when wire resistance is considered. In that case, wire resistance is in series with other resistances that are in parallel.

Combinations of series and parallel can be reduced to a single equivalent resistance using the technique illustrated in [link] . Various parts are identified as either series or parallel, reduced to their equivalents, and further reduced until a single resistance is left. The process is more time consuming than difficult.

The diagram has a set of five circuits. The first circuit has a combination of seven resistors in series and parallel combinations. It has a resistor R sub one in series with a set of three resistors R sub two, R sub three, and R sub four in parallel and connected in series with a combination of resistors R sub five and R sub six, which are parallel. A resistor R sub seven is connected in parallel to R sub one and the voltage source. The second circuit calculates combinations of all parallel resistors in circuit one and replaces them with their equivalent resistance. It has a resistor R sub one in series with R sub p and R sub p prime. A resistor R sub seven is connected in parallel to R sub one and the voltage source. The third circuit takes the combination of the series resistors R sub p and R sub p prime and replaces it with R sub s. It has a resistor R sub one in series with R sub s. A resistor R sub seven is connected in parallel to R sub s and the voltage source. The fourth circuit shows a parallel combination of R sub seven and R sub s are calculated and replaced by R sub p double prime. The circuit now has a series combination voltage source, R sub one and R sub p double prime. The fifth circuit shows the final equivalent of the first circuit. It has a voltage source connecting across a final equivalent resistance R sub s prime.
This combination of seven resistors has both series and parallel parts. Each is identified and reduced to an equivalent resistance, and these are further reduced until a single equivalent resistance is reached.

The simplest combination of series and parallel resistance, shown in [link] , is also the most instructive, since it is found in many applications. For example, R 1 size 12{R rSub { size 8{1} } } {} could be the resistance of wires from a car battery to its electrical devices, which are in parallel. R 2 size 12{R rSub { size 8{1} } } {} and R 3 size 12{R rSub { size 8{1} } } {} could be the starter motor and a passenger compartment light. We have previously assumed that wire resistance is negligible, but, when it is not, it has important effects, as the next example indicates.

Calculating resistance, IR size 12{ ital "IR"} {} Drop, current, and power dissipation: combining series and parallel circuits

[link] shows the resistors from the previous two examples wired in a different way—a combination of series and parallel. We can consider R 1 size 12{R rSub { size 8{1} } } {} to be the resistance of wires leading to R 2 size 12{R rSub { size 8{2} } } {} and R 3 size 12{R rSub { size 8{3} } } {} . (a) Find the total resistance. (b) What is the IR size 12{ ital "IR"} {} drop in R 1 size 12{R rSub { size 8{1} } } {} ? (c) Find the current I 2 size 12{I rSub { size 8{2} } } {} through R 2 size 12{R rSub { size 8{2} } } {} . (d) What power is dissipated by R 2 size 12{R rSub { size 8{2} } } {} ?

Circuit diagram in which a battery of twelve point zero volts is connected to a combination of three resistors. Resistors R sub two and R sub three are connected in parallel to each other, and their combination is connected in series to resistor R sub one. R sub one has a resistance of one point zero zero ohms, R sub two has a resistance of six point zero zero ohms, and R sub three has a resistance of thirteen point zero ohms.
These three resistors are connected to a voltage source so that R 2 size 12{R rSub { size 8{2} } } {} and R 3 size 12{R rSub { size 8{3} } } {} are in parallel with one another and that combination is in series with R 1 size 12{R rSub { size 8{1} } } {} .

Strategy and Solution for (a)

To find the total resistance, we note that R 2 size 12{R rSub { size 8{2} } } {} and R 3 size 12{R rSub { size 8{3} } } {} are in parallel and their combination R p size 12{R rSub { size 8{p} } } {} is in series with R 1 size 12{R rSub { size 8{1} } } {} . Thus the total (equivalent) resistance of this combination is

Questions & Answers

how did you get 1640
Noor Reply
If auger is pair are the roots of equation x2+5x-3=0
Peter Reply
Wayne and Dennis like to ride the bike path from Riverside Park to the beach. Dennis’s speed is seven miles per hour faster than Wayne’s speed, so it takes Wayne 2 hours to ride to the beach while it takes Dennis 1.5 hours for the ride. Find the speed of both bikers.
MATTHEW Reply
420
Sharon
from theory: distance [miles] = speed [mph] × time [hours] info #1 speed_Dennis × 1.5 = speed_Wayne × 2 => speed_Wayne = 0.75 × speed_Dennis (i) info #2 speed_Dennis = speed_Wayne + 7 [mph] (ii) use (i) in (ii) => [...] speed_Dennis = 28 mph speed_Wayne = 21 mph
George
Let W be Wayne's speed in miles per hour and D be Dennis's speed in miles per hour. We know that W + 7 = D and W * 2 = D * 1.5. Substituting the first equation into the second: W * 2 = (W + 7) * 1.5 W * 2 = W * 1.5 + 7 * 1.5 0.5 * W = 7 * 1.5 W = 7 * 3 or 21 W is 21 D = W + 7 D = 21 + 7 D = 28
Salma
Devon is 32 32​​ years older than his son, Milan. The sum of both their ages is 54 54​. Using the variables d d​ and m m​ to represent the ages of Devon and Milan, respectively, write a system of equations to describe this situation. Enter the equations below, separated by a comma.
Aaron Reply
find product (-6m+6) ( 3m²+4m-3)
SIMRAN Reply
-42m²+60m-18
Salma
what is the solution
bill
how did you arrive at this answer?
bill
-24m+3+3mÁ^2
Susan
i really want to learn
Amira
I only got 42 the rest i don't know how to solve it. Please i need help from anyone to help me improve my solving mathematics please
Amira
Hw did u arrive to this answer.
Aphelele
hi
Bajemah
-6m(3mA²+4m-3)+6(3mA²+4m-3) =-18m²A²-24m²+18m+18mA²+24m-18 Rearrange like items -18m²A²-24m²+42m+18A²-18
Salma
complete the table of valuesfor each given equatio then graph. 1.x+2y=3
Jovelyn Reply
x=3-2y
Salma
y=x+3/2
Salma
Hi
Enock
given that (7x-5):(2+4x)=8:7find the value of x
Nandala
3x-12y=18
Kelvin
please why isn't that the 0is in ten thousand place
Grace Reply
please why is it that the 0is in the place of ten thousand
Grace
Send the example to me here and let me see
Stephen
A meditation garden is in the shape of a right triangle, with one leg 7 feet. The length of the hypotenuse is one more than the length of one of the other legs. Find the lengths of the hypotenuse and the other leg
Marry Reply
how far
Abubakar
cool u
Enock
state in which quadrant or on which axis each of the following angles given measure. in standard position would lie 89°
Abegail Reply
hello
BenJay
hi
Method
I am eliacin, I need your help in maths
Rood
how can I help
Sir
hmm can we speak here?
Amoon
however, may I ask you some questions about Algarba?
Amoon
hi
Enock
what the last part of the problem mean?
Roger
The Jones family took a 15 mile canoe ride down the Indian River in three hours. After lunch, the return trip back up the river took five hours. Find the rate, in mph, of the canoe in still water and the rate of the current.
cameron Reply
Shakir works at a computer store. His weekly pay will be either a fixed amount, $925, or $500 plus 12% of his total sales. How much should his total sales be for his variable pay option to exceed the fixed amount of $925.
mahnoor Reply
I'm guessing, but it's somewhere around $4335.00 I think
Lewis
12% of sales will need to exceed 925 - 500, or 425 to exceed fixed amount option. What amount of sales does that equal? 425 ÷ (12÷100) = 3541.67. So the answer is sales greater than 3541.67. Check: Sales = 3542 Commission 12%=425.04 Pay = 500 + 425.04 = 925.04. 925.04 > 925.00
Munster
difference between rational and irrational numbers
Arundhati Reply
When traveling to Great Britain, Bethany exchanged $602 US dollars into £515 British pounds. How many pounds did she receive for each US dollar?
Jakoiya Reply
how to reduced echelon form
Solomon Reply
Jazmine trained for 3 hours on Saturday. She ran 8 miles and then biked 24 miles. Her biking speed is 4 mph faster than her running speed. What is her running speed?
Zack Reply
d=r×t the equation would be 8/r+24/r+4=3 worked out
Sheirtina
Got questions? Join the online conversation and get instant answers!
Jobilize.com Reply
<< Chapter < Page Page > Chapter >>
Practice Key Terms 9

Read also:

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, College physics for ap® courses. OpenStax CNX. Nov 04, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11844/1.14
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'College physics for ap® courses' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask