Final answer:
The maximum number of 100-watt light bulbs that can be connected in parallel without tripping the 20-amp circuit breaker is 24.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the maximum number of 100-watt light bulbs that can be connected in parallel without tripping the 20-amp circuit breaker, we need to calculate the total power consumed by the light bulbs and compare it with the maximum power the circuit can handle.
The formula to calculate power is P = VI, where P is power, V is voltage, and I is current. In this case, the voltage is 120 volts and the current is limited to 20 amps (or 20,000 milliamps).
Since the circuit breaker is rated for 20 amps, the maximum current that can flow through the circuit is 20,000 milliamps. To find the maximum number of light bulbs, we divide the maximum current by the current consumed by each light bulb. The current consumed by a 100-watt light bulb can be calculated using Ohm's law: I = P / V = 100 / 120 = 0.8333 amps (or 833.3 milliamps).
To find the maximum number of light bulbs, we divide the maximum current by the current consumed by each light bulb: 20,000 / 833.3 = 24.0012. Since we can't have a fraction of a light bulb, the maximum number of 100-watt light bulbs we can connect in parallel without tripping the circuit breaker is 24.