Physics Review Question

Unit: Electricity and Magnetism
Year: 1990 Question#: 37
Question: A 5-ohm resistor and a 10-ohm resistor are connected in series. The current in the 5-ohm resistor is 2 amperes. The current in the 10-ohm resistor is

(1 ) 1 A
(2 ) 2 A
(3 ) 0.5 A
(4 ) 8 A

What is this question really asking?




Explanation by: Jessica S

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Answer 1
1 A

INCORRECT

The current in a series circuit is always constant; therefore the current would be the same in both the 10 ohm and the 5 ohm resistor. Since it is 2 A in the 5 ohm resistor, it must also be 2 A in the 10 ohm resistor. Don't get a series circuit confused with a parallel circuit, where the current would be 1 A in the 10 ohm resistor. This is a series circuit; it says so in the question. return to top























Answer 2
2 A

CORRECT

The current in a series circuit is always constant; therefore the current would be the same in both the 10 ohm and the 5 ohm resistor. Since it is 2 A in the 5 ohm resistor, it must also be 2 A in the 10 ohm resistor. return to top



























Answer 3
.5 A

INCORRECT

The current in a series circuit is always constant; therefore the current would be the same in both the 10 ohm and the 5 ohm resistor. Since it is 2 A in the 5 ohm resistor, it must also be 2 A in the 10 ohm resistor. Don't try to do something like dividing 5 by 10 just because these were two of the numbers given in the problem. That is incorrect. return to top


























Answer 4
8 A

INCORRECT

The current in a series circuit is always constant; therefore the current would be the same in both the 10 ohm and the 5 ohm resistor. Since it is 2 A in the 5 ohm resistor, it must also be 2 A in the 10 ohm resistor. 8 A is entirely incorrect; It looks as though you took the average of 10 and 5 ohms. return to top


























What's this question really asking?

This question is testing your knowledge of current in a series circuit. return to top

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