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A light bulb has a resistance of 10 ohms. Calculate the current through the bulb when two 1.5 V cells are connected first in series and then in parallel.
ScanSolve AI Answer
Step-by-step solution
4 stepsThis problem involves calculating the electric current using Ohm's Law (I = V/R) for two different ways of connecting cells: in series and in parallel.
Here's the breakdown:
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Ohm's Law: The relationship between current (I), voltage (V), and resistance (R) is given by: I = V/R
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The resistance of the light bulb is given as 10 ohms (R = 10 Ω).
Case 1: Cells connected in series
Determine the total voltage in series.
When cells are connected in series, their individual voltages add up to give the total voltage. The problem states the total potential difference across the light bulb is 3 volts (V = 3 V). This implies there are two 1.5 V cells connected in series (1.5 V + 1.5 V = 3 V).
Calculate the current using Ohm's Law.
Formula: I = V/R
Substitute values: I = (3 V) / (10 Ω)
Calculate: I = 0.3 ACase 2: Cells connected in parallel
Determine the total voltage in parallel.
When identical cells are connected in parallel, the total voltage across the combination remains the same as the voltage of a single cell. The problem states that when the cells are in parallel, the total voltage is 1.5 volts (V = 1.5 V).
Calculate the current using Ohm's Law.
Formula: I = V/R
Substitute values: I = (1.5 V) / (10 Ω)
Calculate: I = 0.15 ASo, the current is 0.3 A when cells are in series, and 0.15 A when cells are in parallel.
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