Series and Parallel Circuits: Master Circuit Analysis

Question 1

In a series circuit, what is the relationship between the total resistance and the individual resistances?

Accepted Answer

Total resistance is equal to the sum of the individual resistances

Answer

Total resistance is greater than the sum of the individual resistances

Answer

Total resistance is less than the sum of the individual resistances

Answer

Total resistance is independent of the individual resistances

Question 2

Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL) states that:

Accepted Answer

The sum of the currents entering a junction equals the sum of the currents leaving the junction

Answer

The voltage drop across a series circuit is equal to the sum of the voltage drops across each component

Answer

The resistance of a parallel circuit is equal to the sum of the resistances of all the branches

Answer

The power dissipated in a circuit is equal to the product of voltage and current

Question 3

A 10-ohm resistor and a 15-ohm resistor are connected in series. What is the total resistance of the circuit?

Accepted Answer

25 ohms

Answer

5 ohms

Answer

10 ohms

Answer

Cannot be determined from the information given

Question 4

Ohm's Law expresses the relationship between which three electrical quantities?

Accepted Answer

Voltage, current, and resistance

Answer

Voltage, power, and time

Answer

Current, resistance, and time

Answer

Power, voltage, and current

Question 5

Which of the following instruments is used to measure voltage in a circuit?

Accepted Answer

Multimeter

Answer

Ammeter

Answer

Ohmmeter

Answer

Capacitance meter

Question 6

Which of the following describes the current flow in a series circuit?

Accepted Answer

Current is the same throughout the circuit

Answer

Current is shared equally among components

Answer

Current increases as it passes through each component

Answer

Current decreases as it passes through each component

Question 7

In a parallel circuit, how does the total resistance compare to the individual resistances?

Accepted Answer

Less than the smallest individual resistance

Answer

Greater than the largest individual resistance

Answer

Equal to the sum of the individual resistances

Answer

Equal to the average of the individual resistances

Question 8

Which law states that the algebraic sum of the currents entering and leaving a junction is zero?

Accepted Answer

Kirchhoff's Current Law

Answer

Kirchhoff's Voltage Law

Answer

Ohm's Law

Answer

Faraday's Law

Question 9

When two resistors are connected in series, the equivalent resistance is:

Accepted Answer

The sum of the individual resistances

Answer

The difference between the individual resistances

Answer

The average of the individual resistances

Answer

Zero

Question 10

In a parallel circuit, how is the equivalent resistance calculated?

Accepted Answer

The reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocals of the individual resistances

Answer

The sum of the individual resistances

Answer

The difference between the individual resistances

Answer

The average of the individual resistances

Question 11

What is the SI unit of electrical potential difference?

Accepted Answer

Volt

Answer

Ampere

Answer

Ohm

Answer

Watt

Question 12

Which factor does NOT affect the resistance of a conductor?

Accepted Answer

Voltage

Answer

Length

Answer

Cross-sectional area

Answer

Material

Question 13

In a series circuit, adding another resistor directly results in what change to the current?

Accepted Answer

Decrease

Answer

Increase

Answer

No change

Question 14

In a parallel circuit, which characteristic is incorrect?

Accepted Answer

Total resistance is higher than the lowest individual resistance

Answer

Current divides among branches

Answer

Voltage is identical across all branches

Question 15

What is the primary function of Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL)?

Accepted Answer

Calculating the total current flowing into and out of a junction

Answer

Determining the voltage drop across a resistor

Answer

Measuring the resistance of a circuit

Question 16

For measuring current in a circuit, which instrument is appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Ammeter

Answer

Voltmeter

Answer

Ohmmeter

Question 17

How does increasing the temperature of a conductor generally affect its resistance?

Accepted Answer

Increases

Answer

Decreases

Answer

No change

Question 18

Which of the following materials is a good example of a conductor?

Accepted Answer

Copper

Answer

Rubber

Answer

Glass

Question 19

In an electrical circuit, what is the main purpose of a fuse?

Accepted Answer

Protecting the circuit from excessive current

Answer

Regulating voltage in the circuit

Answer

Isolating faulty components

Question 20

In a series circuit, the total resistance (RT) is equal to:

Accepted Answer

The sum of all individual resistances (Ri). Mathematically, RT = R1 + R2 + ... + Rn.

Answer

The same as the smallest individual resistance.

Answer

The product of all individual resistances.

Answer

The reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocals of all individual resistances.

Question 21

If a 10-ohm resistor and a 20-ohm resistor are connected in parallel, what is the total resistance of the circuit?

Accepted Answer

6.67 ohms. This can be calculated using the formula 1/RT = 1/R1 + 1/R2, where R1 is the resistance of the first resistor and R2 is the resistance of the second resistor.

Answer

20 ohms

Answer

30 ohms

Answer

10 ohms

Question 22

In a parallel circuit, the voltage (V) across each resistor is:

Accepted Answer

The same. This is because the voltage source is directly connected to each resistor, and the voltage drop across each resistor is the same as the voltage of the source.

Answer

The sum of the voltages across all resistors.

Answer

Different for each resistor.

Answer

The product of the voltages across all resistors.

Question 23

According to Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL), the sum of currents entering any junction in a circuit is:

Accepted Answer

Equal to the sum of currents leaving the same junction. This law ensures that charge is neither created nor destroyed at any point in the circuit.

Answer

The total resistance of the circuit.

Answer

The product of all currents.

Answer

The total voltage of the circuit.

Question 24

In a series circuit, the current (I) flowing through each component is:

Accepted Answer

The same. This is because current has only one path to follow through the circuit, so the current remains constant throughout the series.

Answer

Dependent on the resistance of each component.

Answer

Different for each component.

Answer

Zero.

Question 25

If one resistor in a series circuit fails (becomes open), what happens to the circuit?

Accepted Answer

The entire circuit will break, and no current will flow through any component. This is because a break in the circuit creates an infinite resistance, preventing current flow.

Answer

The current will increase in the remaining resistors.

Answer

The voltage across the remaining resistors will increase.

Answer

The other resistors will continue to function normally.

Question 26

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a parallel circuit?

Accepted Answer

The total resistance is greater than the highest individual resistance. In a parallel circuit, the total resistance is always less than or equal to the smallest individual resistance.

Answer

Voltage is the same across each branch.

Answer

Current divides between branches.

Question 27

In a circuit with multiple resistors, how does the total current (IT) relate to the individual currents (I1, I2, ..., In) in a parallel circuit?

Accepted Answer

Total current is the sum of individual currents. This is a direct consequence of Kirchhoff's Current Law applied to a parallel circuit.

Answer

Total current is the same as each individual current in a parallel circuit.

Answer

Total current is the product of individual currents in a series circuit.

Question 28

Which type of circuit provides multiple paths for current to flow through?

Accepted Answer

Parallel circuit

Answer

Neither series nor parallel circuits

Answer

Series circuit