Question

The term series opposing means that sources are in series with opposite polarities. If a 12 V and a 3 V battery are series opposing, what is the total voltage?

Answer 1

When voltage sources are connected in series opposing, their emfs subtract. Therefore, the total voltage of a 12 V and 3 V battery in series opposing is 9 V.

Step-by-step explanation:

When voltage sources are connected in series, their internal resistances add and their emfs add algebraically. In this case, the 12 V and 3 V batteries are series opposing, which means their emfs are subtracted to find the total voltage. So, the total voltage is 12 V - 3 V = 9 V.