Question

A circuit consists of one resistor connected to a battery. How will adding another resistor in series to the first resistor change the current of the circuit? Briefly justify your answer. (2 Points)

Answer 1

When two resistors are connected in series, their action is equivalent to a single resistor with an equivalent resistance which is the sum of the individual resistances:

`R_(eq)=R_1+R_2`

This means that the equivalent resistance must always be greater than any of the resistances that the series association is made of.

Since the current I, the resistance R and the voltage V are related through the following equation:

`I=(V)/(R)`

If we increase the value of R, then the value of I will decrease.

Therefore, adding another resistor in series will decrease the current through the circuit.