Series Circuits

True/False
Indicate whether the sentence or statement is true or false.

____ 1. A series circuit can have only one voltage source.

____ 2. In a series circuit, two or more electrical components or elements are connected across the same voltage
source.
____ 3. Current flow is the same through all the elements of a series circuit.
____ 4. If a resistor color coded Brn,Blk,Brn is connected in series with another resistor coded Red,Blk,Brn the total
resistance is equal to 300 .
____ 5. In a series circuit, the sum of all the voltage drops must equal the sum of all the voltage rises.
____ 6. The load power must equal the source power in a series circuit.
____ 7. If the voltage doubles in a series circuit, then each resistor must dissipate twice the power.
____ 8. If the total resistance decreased by 50% in a series circuit, the total load power would increase by 50%.
____ 9. The source voltage would be measured across an open resistor in a series circuit.
____ 10. The current through an open resistor will always be zero.
____ 11. The voltage across a shorted resistor will always be zero.
____ 12. A short of one resistor in a series circuit always increases the power dissipation of all the other series
resistors.
____ 13. If one of the resistors in a voltage divider circuit becomes shorted, the total resistance of the circuit will
increase.
____ 14. A series circuit can only have one common reference point.
____ 15. An open anywhere in a series circuit will result in no current being drawn from the source.
____ 16. If all resistors in a voltage divider have their resistance values decreased by a factor of two while the source
voltage is constant, the output voltage across each resistor will be unchanged.
____ 17. A fuse is used to protect a series circuit. If the fuse is open, source voltage will be measured across the fuse.
____ 18. When one light bulb opens in a series circuit, all of the remaining light bulbs in that series circuit remain
illuminated.

Multiple Choice
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

____ 19. Four equal valued resistors are connected in series to a 12-Volt source. The voltage across each resistor is:
a. 48 V c. 3 V
b. 6 V d. 4 V
____ 20. Two resistors color coded Red,Blk,Blk are connected in series to a 60-Volt source. The current drawn from
the source is:
a. 0.5 A c. 1.5 A
b. 1 A d. 20 A
____ 21. Three resistors color coded Brn,Red,Blk are connected in series to a 24-Volt source. The total power is:
a. 12 W c. 24 W
b. 16 W d. 36 W
____ 22. Two resistors color coded Brn,Blk,Red are connected in series to a 20-Volt source. The power dissipated by
each of the resistors is:
a. 0.1 W c. 2 W
b. 0.2 W d. 20 W
____ 23. A series-dropping resistor is needed to permit operation of a 12-Volt 24-Watt light bulb from a 24-Volt
battery. The value of series-dropping resistance required is:
a. 1 c. 6
b. 3 d. 24
____ 24. Two resistors color coded Brn,Grn,Blk,Silver are connected in series to a 9-Volt source. Taking into account
the resistor tolerances, what is the maximum current that could be drawn from the source?
a. 0.20 A c. 0.33 A
b. 0.25 A d. 0.45 A

Short Answer

25. Three 47- and four 36- resistors are connected in series. What is the total resistance?
26. Three 30-k resistors are connected in series to a 12-V source. What is the voltage across each resistor?
27. A series circuit contains one 25-, one 75-, and two 50- resistors connected to a 24-V source. What is the
current in this circuit?
28. A voltage divider contains one 1-k, one 2-k, one 3-k, and two 5-k resistors connected in series to a 12-
V source. How much voltage is across the 2-k resistor?
29. What is the value of series-dropping resistance needed in series with a 6-V 12-W light bulb to allow operation
from a 12-Volt battery?
30. Four 12-V 18-W light bulbs are connected in series. What is the total resistance?
Series Circuits
Answer Section

TRUE/FALSE

1. ANS: F
2. ANS: F
3. ANS: T
4. ANS: T
5. ANS: T
6. ANS: T
7. ANS: F
8. ANS: F
9. ANS: T
10. ANS: T
11. ANS: T
12. ANS: T
13. ANS: F
14. ANS: T
15. ANS: T
16. ANS: T
17. ANS: T
18. ANS: F

MULTIPLE CHOICE

19. ANS: C
20. ANS: C
21. ANS: B
22. ANS: A
23. ANS: C
24. ANS: C

SHORT ANSWER

25. ANS:
285
26. ANS:
4V
27. ANS:
120 mA
28. ANS:
1.5 V
29. ANS:
3
30. ANS:
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