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NAME ______________________________________ DATE _______________ CLASS ____________________

Circuits and Circuit Elements

Problem A
RESISTORS IN SERIES

PROBLEM
A particular electronic-code lock provides over 500 billion combinations.
Moreover, it can sustain an electric shock of 1.25 × 105 V. Suppose this
potential difference is applied across a series connection of the following
resistors: 11.0 kΩ, 34.0 kΩ, and 215 kΩ. What is the equivalent resistance
for the circuit? What current would pass through the resistors?
SOLUTION
1. DEFINE Given: R1 = 11.0 kΩ = 11.0 × 103 Ω
R2 = 34.0 kΩ = 34.0 × 103 Ω
R3 = 215 kΩ = 215 × 103 Ω
∆V = 1.25 × 105 V
Unknown: Req = ? I =?
2. PLAN Choose the equation(s) or situation: Because the resistors are in series, the
equivalent resistance can be calculated from the equation for resistors in series.
Req = R1 + R2 + R3
The equation relating potential difference, current, and resistance can be used to
calculate the current.
∆V = IReq
Rearrange the equation(s) to isolate the unknown(s):
∆V
I = 
Req
3. CALCULATE Substitute the values into the equation(s) and solve:
Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

Req = (11.0 × 103 Ω + 34.0 × 103 Ω + 215 × 103 Ω)

Req = 2.60 × 105 Ω

(1.25 × 105 V)
I =  = 0.481 A
(2.60 × 105 Ω)
4. EVALUATE For resistors connected in series, the equivalent resistance should be greater than
the largest resistance in the circuit.
2.60 × 105 Ω > 2.15 × 105 Ω

ADDITIONAL PRACTICE

1. The Large Optics Diamond Turning Machine at the Lawrence Livermore

National Lab in California can cut a human hair lengthwise 3000 times!
That would produce pieces with a cross-sectional area of 10−7 mm2. A
1.0 m long silver wire with this cross-sectional area would have a resistance

Problem A 151
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NAME ______________________________________ DATE _______________ CLASS ____________________

of 160 kΩ. Consider three pieces of silver wire connected in series. If their
lengths are 2.0 m, 3.0 m, and 7.5 m, and the resistance of each wire is pro-
portional to its length, what is the equivalent resistance of the connection?
2. Most of the 43 × 103 kg of gold that sank with the British ship HMS Lau-
rentis in 1917 has been recovered. If this gold were drawn into a wire
long enough to wrap around Earth’s equator five times, its electrical re-
sistance would be about 5.0 × 108 Ω. Consider three resistors with resis-
tances that are exactly 1/3, 2/7, and 1/5 the resistance of the gold wire.
What equivalent resistance would be produced by connecting all three
resistors in series?
3. A 3 mm thick steel wire that stretches for 5531 km has a resistance of
about 82 kΩ. If you connect in series three resistors with the values
16 kΩ, 22 kΩ, and 32 kΩ, what value must the fourth resistor have for
the equivalent resistance to equal 82 k Ω?
4. The largest operating wind generator in the world has a rotor diameter
of almost 100 m. This generator can deliver 3.2 MW of power. Suppose
you connect a 3.0 kΩ resistor, a 4.0 kΩ resistor, and a 5.0 kΩ resistor in
series. What potential difference must be applied across these resistors in
order to dissipate power equal to 1.00 percent of the power provided by
the generator? What is the current through the resistors? (Hint: Recall
the relation between potential difference, resistance, and power.)
5. The resistance of loudspeakers varies with the frequency of the sound
they produce. For example, one type of speaker has a minimum resis-
tance of 4.5 Ω at low frequencies and 4.0 Ω at ultra-low frequencies, and
it has a peak resistance of 16 Ω at a high frequency. Consider a set of re-
sistors with resistances equal to 4.5 Ω, 4.0 Ω, and 16.0 Ω. What values of
the equivalent resistance can be obtained by connecting any two of them
in different series connections?

Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

6. Standard household potential difference in the United States is 1.20 × 102 V.
However, many electric companies allow the residential potential difference
to increase up to 138 V at night. Suppose a 2.20 × 102 Ω resistor is con-
nected to a constant potential difference. A second resistor is provided in an
alternate circuit so that when the potential difference rises to 138 V, the sec-
ond resistor connects in series with the first resistor. This changes the resis-
tance so that the current in the circuit is unchanged. What is the value of
the second resistor?
7. The towers of the Golden Gate Bridge, in San Francisco, California, are
about 227 m tall. The supporting cables of the bridge are about 90 cm
thick. A steel cable with a length of 227 m and a thickness of 90 cm
would have a resistance of 3.6 × 10−5 Ω. If a 3.6 × 10−5 Ω resistor is con-
nected in series with an 8.4 × 10−6 Ω resistor, what power would be dissi-
pated in the resistors by a 280 A current? (Hint: Recall the relation be-
tween current, resistance, and power.)

152 Holt Physics Problem Workbook

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Problem Workbook Solutions

Circuits and
Circuit Elements
Additional Practice A
Givens Solutions
1. R = 160 kΩ Req = R1 + R2 + R3 = 2.0R + 3.0R + 7.5R = 12.5R
R1 = 2.0R Req = (12.5)(160 kΩ) = 2.0 × 103 kΩ
R2 = 3.0R
R3 = 7.5R

1 2 1
2. R = 5.0 × 108 Ω Req = R1 + R2 + R3 = 3 R + 7 R + 5 R
1
R1 = 3 R 35 + 30 + 21 86 86
Req =  R = R =  (5.0 × 108 Ω) = 4.1 × 108 Ω
105 105 105
2
R2 = 7 R II
1
R3 = 5 R

3. R1 = 16 kΩ
R4 = Req − R1 − R2 − R3 = 82 kΩ − 16 kΩ − 22 kΩ − 32 kΩ = 12 kΩ
R2 = 22 kΩ
R3 = 32 kΩ
Req = 82 kΩ

4. R1 = 3.0 kΩ Req = R1 + R2 + R3 = 3.0 kΩ + 4.0 kΩ + 5.0 kΩ = 12.0 kΩ

R2 = 4.0 kΩ (∆V )2
P = 
R3 = 5.0 kΩ R
 
P = (0.0100)(3.2 MW) = R
∆V = Peq
 = (3
.2
×1
041.
W)(20
×1
04
Ω) = 2.0 × 104 V
Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

0.032 MW

5. R1 = 4.5 Ω R12 = R1 + R2 = 4.5 Ω + 4.0 Ω = 8.5 Ω

R2 = 4.0 Ω R13 = R1 + R3 = 4.5 Ω + 16.0 Ω = 20.5 Ω
R3 = 16.0 Ω
R23 = R2 + R3 = 4.0 Ω + 16.0 Ω = 20.0 Ω

6. R1 = 2.20 × 102 Ω Because the current is unchanged, the following relationship can be written.
∆Vi = 1.20 × 10 V 2
Vi Vf
 = 
∆Vf = 138 V R1 R1 + R2
Vf R1 − Vi R1 (138 V)(220 Ω) − (120 V)(220 Ω)
R2 =  = 
Vi 120 V

30 400 V • Ω − 26 400 V • Ω 4000 V• Ω

R2 =  =  = 33 Ω
120 V 120 V

Section Two—Problem Workbook Solutions II Ch. 18–1

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Givens Solutions
7. R1 = 3.6 × 10−5 Ω Req = R1 + R2 = 3.6 × 10−5 Ω + 8.4 × 10−6 Ω = 4.4 × 10−5 Ω
R2 = 8.4 × 10− 6 Ω P = I 2Req = (280 A)2(4.4 × 10−5 Ω) = 3.4 W
I = 280 A

Additional Practice B

1. R1 = 1.8 Ω −1 −1

   
1 1 1 1 1 1
Req =  +  +  =  +  + 
R2 = 5.0 Ω R1 R2 R3 1.8 Ω 5.0 Ω 32 Ω
−1 −1
R3 = 32 Ω
 Ω Ω Ω  Ω
1 1 1 1
Req = 0.55  + 0.20  + 0.031  = 0.78  = 1.3 Ω

2. R = 450 Ω −1 −1

   
1 1 1 1 1 1
Req =  +  +  =  +  + 
R1 = R R1 R2 R3 450 Ω 900 Ω 220 Ω

R2 = 2.0R −1 −1

  = 0.0078 Ω
1 1 1 1
Req = 0.0022  + 0.0011  + 0.0045  = 1.3 × 102 Ω
R3 = 0.50R Ω Ω Ω
II
3. R1 = 2.48 × 10−2 Ω −1 −1

  = 
6.00 × 10 Ω 2.48 × 10 Ω
1 2 1 2
R2 =  −   −  −3 −2
−3 Req R1
Req = 6.00 × 10 Ω
−1 −1

   
1 1 1
R2 = 167  − 80.6  = 86  = 0.012 Ω
Ω Ω Ω

4. R1 = R −1 −1

  = R + 3R + 7R + 11R

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Req =  +  +  + 
R2 = 3R R1 R2 R3 R4
−1 −1 −1

 231R  231R  R 
R3 = 7R 231 + 77 + 33 + 21 362 1.57
Req =  =  = 
R4 = 11R
Req = 6.38 × 10−2 Ω R = 1.57Req = 1.57(6.38 × 10−2 Ω) = 0.100 Ω

Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

5. ratio = 1.22 × 10−2 Ω/m a. R = (ratio)(l ) = (1.22 × 10−2 Ω/m)(1.813 × 106 m) = 2.21 × 104 Ω
l = 1813 km
−1 −1

   
1 1 1 1 1 2 4 5 20
R1 = 2 R b. Req =  +  +  +  =  +  +  + 
R1 R2 R3 R4 R R R R
1
R2 = 4 R
−1 −1

  
31 31
1
R3 = 5 R Req =  =  = 3.23 × 108 Ω
R 1.00 × 1010 Ω
1
R4 = 20 R

6. ∆V = 14.4 V (∆V)2
P = 
P = 225 W R
(∆V)2 (14.4 V)2
R =  =  = 0.922 Ω
P 225 W

−1


4 R 0.922 Ω
Req =  =  =  = 0.230 Ω
R 4 4
∆V 14.4 V
I =  =  = 62.6 A
Req 0.230 Ω

II Ch. 18–2 Holt Physics Solution Manual