What are the steps to calculate the total resistance of a circuit with three lamps (A, B, C) having resistances of 100Ω, 25Ω, and 50Ω, connected in series to a 240V supply by a cable of resistance 5Ω? How do we determine the cable voltage drop, the voltage across the lamps, and the current drawn by each lamp in this circuit?
Total resistance of the circuit is calculated by adding the resistances of all components (lamps and cable). The cable voltage drop can be determined using Ohm's Law, while the voltage across the lamps is equal to the total voltage supplied by the source (240V). The current drawn by each lamp is the same as the total current flowing through the circuit.
Circuit Representation
The circuit representation is a series circuit where lamps A, B, and C are connected in series with a cable of resistance 5Ω. The schematic diagram of the circuit shows a single path for current flow.
Total Resistance of the Circuit
To calculate the total resistance (Rtotal), we sum up the resistances of all components:
RA = 100Ω
RB = 25Ω
RC = 50Ω
Rcable = 5Ω
Therefore, Rtotal = RA + RB + RC + Rcable
Cable Voltage Drop
Using Ohm's Law, we can determine the voltage drop across the cable:
Vcable = I * Rcable
Voltage Across the Lamps
In a series circuit, the voltage across each component is the same as the total voltage supplied by the source (240V).
Current Drawn by Each Lamp
The current drawn by each lamp is equal to the total current flowing through the circuit. We can calculate the current using Ohm's Law:
I = V / Rtotal
Where:
I = Current
V = Voltage
Rtotal = Total Resistance
By following these calculations and principles of series circuits, we can determine the circuit parameters and analyze the behavior of the lamps in the given circuit setup.