Which statement correctly describes resistances in series and in parallel?

Prepare for the essential 636 Period 3 Motor Final Test with comprehensive flashcards and detailed questions. Access explanations and hints for each question to ace your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which statement correctly describes resistances in series and in parallel?

Resistors behave differently depending on how they’re connected. In series, the same current flows through each resistor, so their resistances simply add up; the total resistance is the sum of all the individual resistances. In parallel, each resistor provides its own path for current, so combining them lowers the overall resistance; the total is always less than the smallest individual resistor (calculated via 1/R_total = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + …). For example, 4 Ω and 6 Ω in series give 10 Ω, while in parallel they give 1/(1/4 + 1/6) ≈ 2.4 Ω. This matches the statement that series adds, and parallel yields a total smaller than the smallest resistor.

Resistors behave differently depending on how they’re connected. In series, the same current flows through each resistor, so their resistances simply add up; the total resistance is the sum of all the individual resistances. In parallel, each resistor provides its own path for current, so combining them lowers the overall resistance; the total is always less than the smallest individual resistor (calculated via 1/R_total = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + …). For example, 4 Ω and 6 Ω in series give 10 Ω, while in parallel they give 1/(1/4 + 1/6) ≈ 2.4 Ω. This matches the statement that series adds, and parallel yields a total smaller than the smallest resistor.

More practice questions