Final answer:
The power dissipated in a series circuit is equal to the square of the current times the resistance (P = I²R) or the voltage squared divided by the resistance (P = V²/R), with the total power dissipation equaling the power supplied by the voltage source.
Step-by-step explanation:
The power dissipated in a circuit with a single voltage source and resistors connected in series is determined by the current flowing through the resistors and the resistance of each individual resistor. Since each resistor in a series circuit has the same amount of current flowing through it, the power dissipated can be found using power equations such as P = I²R or P = V²/R, where I is the current, V is the voltage, and R is the resistance. The energy supplied by the voltage source equals the energy converted by the resistor; hence, the power supplied by the voltage source and that dissipated by the resistor are identical.
It's important to note that the voltage drop across each resistor may vary, but the sum of all the voltage drops is equal to the voltage supplied by the source. The energy dissipated by a resistor typically manifests as heat. In summary, knowing the current and the resistance allows for the calculation of power dissipation for each resistor in a series circuit.