1-5) DC-Circuit Calculators for Resistors

Question 1

What is the total resistance in a series circuit equal to?

Answer 1

Total resistance in a series circuit is equal to the sum of individual resistances in the circuit.

Question 2

How to calculate total resistance in a series circuit if only individual resistor values are known? What’s the formula?

Answer 2

Add up individual resistances to get the total resistance.

R_total=R₁+R₂+R₃+….R_n

Question 3

How to calculate apply Ohm’s Law to find current in a series circuit?

Answer 3

I_total = E_total / _Rtotal

Question 4

In a series circuit, what is the sum of voltage drops across each resistor equal to?

Answer 4

The applied voltage.

Question 5

In a series circuit, what changes about current through different parts of the circuit?

Answer 5

Nothing. In a series circuit, current all points is the same and is equal throughout the entire circuit.

Question 6

In a series circuit, how do you calculate total circuit resistance?

Answer 6

Add up the resistance values of the individual resistors.

Question 7

In a series circuit, how do you calculate power in the circuit?

Answer 7

Add up the power values of each of the individual components in the circuit.

Question 8

What is a parallel circuit?

Answer 8

A circuit with multiple branches (paths) for current to flow through.

Question 9

In a parallel circuit, how is voltage applied across the different circuit branches?

Answer 9

Equally. Applied voltage is equal in every branch of a parallel circuit.

Question 10

How do you calculate total resistance in a parallel circuit with 3 (or more branches) of unequal resistance value?

Answer 10

Calculate the inverse of the sum of inverses of individual brach resistances:

R_total = 1 / (1/R₁ + 1/R₂ + 1/R₃ + …..1/R_n)

Question 11

What are 3 ways to solve the total resistance (equivalent resistance) in a parallel circuit?

Answer 11

1. Reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocals
2. Product over sum
3. R_total = R_branches over number of branches

Question 12

How do you calculate total resistance of a parallel circuit with 2 unequal branch resistances?

Answer 12

R_total = R₁ x R₂ / R₁ + R₂

If there are more than 2 branches, this formula can be applied 2 branches at a time to simplify the circuit and find equivalent resistance for parallel circuit.

Question 13

How do you calculate total resistance in a parallel circuit if branch resistance values are all the same?

Answer 13

R_total = R / N

N=number of equal branches

R=individual branch resistance

Note: This formula may only be used when all branches are equal.

Question 14

How do you calculate total current in a parallel circuit?

Answer 14

Add up the sum of individual branch currents.

Question 15

What is always true about total (equivalent) resistance in a parallel circuit?

Answer 15

Total (equivalent) resistance is always less than any individual parallel circuit branch.

Question 16

What are the steps to solve for unknown values in a parallel circuit?

Answer 16

1. Draw the circuit diagram.
2. State the given values and the unknown values to be found.
3. Select the equations to be used to solve for unknown values based on known values.
4. Substitute known values into the equation you have selected and solve for the unknown value.

Question 17

What is one method to check ones answers to a series-parallel circuit problem?

Answer 17

Add up the power (W) of the individual components to see if it equals the total.

P_T=I_TxV_T