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 [ Return to question menu ] 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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