A 24-volt source furnishes 48 watts to a parallel circuit consisting of four equal resistors. What is the voltage drop across each resistor?

Enhance your understanding of the fundamentals of electricity with the AMT General Exam. Study with multiple-choice questions crafted to improve your knowledge and confidence. Prepare effectively for your success!

Multiple Choice

A 24-volt source furnishes 48 watts to a parallel circuit consisting of four equal resistors. What is the voltage drop across each resistor?

Explanation:
In a parallel circuit, every branch shares the same voltage as the source. Since the supply is 24 volts, each resistor in parallel has 24 volts across it, so the voltage drop across each resistor is 24 volts. Quick check: if each resistor has the same resistance R, the total current is 4*(24/R), giving total power 24*4*(24/R) = 2304/R. Setting this equal to the given total power of 48 W gives R = 48 ohms, which is consistent with the 24 V across each resistor. The other values would require different circuit configurations and don’t apply here.

In a parallel circuit, every branch shares the same voltage as the source. Since the supply is 24 volts, each resistor in parallel has 24 volts across it, so the voltage drop across each resistor is 24 volts. Quick check: if each resistor has the same resistance R, the total current is 4*(24/R), giving total power 244(24/R) = 2304/R. Setting this equal to the given total power of 48 W gives R = 48 ohms, which is consistent with the 24 V across each resistor. The other values would require different circuit configurations and don’t apply here.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Passetra

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy