Cathodic Protection Tester Practice Exam

In a series circuit, how is the total resistance calculated?

1. It equals the product of individual resistances

2. It equals the minimum of individual resistances

3. It equals the sum of the individual resistances

4. It equals the average of individual resistances

The correct answer is: It equals the sum of the individual resistances

In a series circuit, the total resistance is calculated by summing up the individual resistances of all components connected in the circuit. This is because, in a series configuration, the current must pass through each resistor one after another. As a result, the total resistance faced by the current is the cumulative effect of each resistor's opposition to the flow of electric charge. Mathematically, this can be represented as: Total Resistance (R_total) = R1 + R2 + R3 + ... + Rn where R1, R2, R3, ..., Rn are the resistances of each individual resistor in the series circuit. The total resistance increases with the addition of more resistors, making it essential to sum them up to determine how much total opposition the current will encounter. This understanding emphasizes the principle of series circuits and highlights how resistance behaves in this context. As a result, the choice indicating that the total resistance equals the sum of the individual resistances accurately reflects the fundamental characteristics of series circuits.