Worksheet 4 Solutions

1. When two resistances are in parallel then the voltage across them is the same and when two
resistances are in series then the current through them is the same.
Since we use the voltmeter to measure the voltage across a resistor, therefore if we put the voltmeter
in parallel to the resistor then it will register the same drop in voltage as the resistor. On the other
hand we use the ammeter to measure the current through the resistor. Therefore if the ammeter is
in series with the resistor then the current through the resistor is the same as the current through
the ammeter.
2. The more power a bulb radiates the brighter it is. We can measure the power radiated by a using
either
V2
P =
or P = I 2 R.
R
When the bulbs are in series then the current through both the bulbs is the same. Therefore we
use the second formula for power. Let the current be I. Then P1 = I 2 R1 and P2 = I 2 R2 . As
R2 > R1 , we have P2 > P1 . Therefore the bulb with resistance R2 is brighter.
When the bulbs are in parallel to each other then the voltage across them is same. Therefore we
use the first formula to find power. Let the voltage be V . The P1 = V 2 /R1 and P2 = V 2 /R2 .
R2 > R! means that 1/R2 < 1/R1 which implies P2 < P1 . Therefore the bulb with resistance R1
is brighter.
3. (a) Here R2 is parallel to R3 and their combination is in series with R1 . Therefore
1
1
1
=
+
R23
R2
R3
R2 R3
6R
= R23 =
=
and
R2 + R3
5
6R
11R
Rtotal = R23 + R1 =
+R=
.
5
5

(1)
(2)
(3)

(b) Here R1 and R2 are in series, R3 and R4 are in series and their combinations are in parallel.
The net resistance is
R12 = R1 + R2 = 3R

(4)

R34 = R3 + R4 = 7R
1
1
1
=
+
Rtotal
R12
R34
21R
= Rtotal =
.
10

(5)
(6)
(7)

(c) R1 and R2 are in parallel, R3 and R4 are in parallel and their combinations are in series.
2R
3
12R
R34 =
7
2R 12R
50R
Rtotal =
+
=
.
3
7
21
R12 =

(8)
(9)
(10)

(d) This circuit is more complex than the others, so we will reduce it in steps. In problems like
this always try to start with the outermost resistors.
R4 and R5 are in parallel. So we will replace them with their combination, R45 .
1
1
1
1
1
2
=
+
=
+
=
R45
R4
R5
R R
R
R
= R45 = .
2
1

(11)
(12)

R45 and R3 are in series. Their combination is

R345 = R3 + R45 = R +

R
3R
=
.
2
2

(13)

R345 and R2 are in parallel. Therefore

1

1
1
2
1
5
+
=
+
=
R2345
R345
R2
3R R
3R
3R
= R2345 =
.
5
=

(14)
(15)

R2345 and R1 are in series.

Rtotal = R1 + R2345 = R +

3R
8R
=
.
5
5

(16)