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CE Predict/Explain Two resistors are connected in
Chapter 21, Problem 37P(choose chapter or problem)
Problem 37P
CE Predict/Explain Two resistors are connected in parallel,
(a) If a third resistor is now connected in parallel with the original two, does the equivalent resistance of the circuit increase, decrease, or remain the same?
(b) Choose the best explanation from among the following:
I. Adding a resistor generally tends to increase the resistance, but putting it in parallel tends to decrease the resistance; therefore the effects offset and the resistance stays the same.
II. Adding more resistance to the circuit will increase the equivalent resistance.
III. The third resistor gives yet another path for current to flow in the circuit, which means that the equivalent resistance is less.
Questions & Answers
QUESTION:
Problem 37P
CE Predict/Explain Two resistors are connected in parallel,
(a) If a third resistor is now connected in parallel with the original two, does the equivalent resistance of the circuit increase, decrease, or remain the same?
(b) Choose the best explanation from among the following:
I. Adding a resistor generally tends to increase the resistance, but putting it in parallel tends to decrease the resistance; therefore the effects offset and the resistance stays the same.
II. Adding more resistance to the circuit will increase the equivalent resistance.
III. The third resistor gives yet another path for current to flow in the circuit, which means that the equivalent resistance is less.
ANSWER:
Step 1 of 2
(a)
Here we need to explain whether the equivalent resistance of the circuit will increase, decrease or remain same, when a third resistor is connected in parallel with the circuit which already has two resistors connected in parallel.
The equivalent resistance of the circuit decreases when a third resistor is added in parallel to the circuit which consists two resistors in parallel because the current in the parallel combination chooses the least resistive path in such a way that the effective resistance of the circuit decreases to smaller value. Whereas in case of series combination, the effective resistance increases when we add more resistor but in parallel, it decreases.