Final answer:
The most likely problem causing only 10V across the resistors is high resistance or faulty components. The total resistance of 10 resistors connected in series is simply 10 times the resistance of a single resistor. A low voltage suggests potential issues with the circuit or the internal resistance of the battery.
Step-by-step explanation:
If you had only 10V between R & Y and you are expecting a higher voltage, the most likely problem is that there is a high resistance in the circuit or that some components are not functioning properly. When resistors are connected in series, their total resistance is the sum of their individual resistances. Thus, if you have 10 resistors R connected in a series, the total resistance would be 10 times R, since each resistor adds to the total resistance. If 0.005 A flows through the circuit which consists of 10 resistors in series, using Ohm's Law (V = IR), the total voltage across these components would be V = 0.005 A * (10R), indicating the relationship between current, voltage, and resistance.
In the case of a load that is too light, such as connecting a single resistor across a battery, if the voltage drop is only 10V while expecting a higher voltage, it suggests that there is either a fault in the circuit or that the internal resistance of the battery is affecting the voltage output. Likewise, when discussing power dissipation as heat in high-current situations, it's essential to acknowledge that a low resistance (R3) can cause a large current to flow, altering the power distribution and IR drop throughout the circuit.