Q&A for How to Calculate Total Current

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How do you calculate resistors connected in a series?

Community Answer

Series resistors' value is the value of all added together. 1 Ohm+2 Ohm = 3 Ohm total, for example.

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Question

What is the formula for a total current?

Gabeericwolf

Community Answer

IT = VT/RT or I total = V total / R total or the total current = the total voltage / the total resistance.

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Question

A street lamp is rated at 240V and 120W. How do I calculate the current through the lamp when it is working at its recommended power?

Community Answer

The answer is 0.5 amps. Using the P=IxE formula, I=P/E so plugging the numbers in gives 120W/240V=0.5 Amps

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Question

What is the equation to calculate power when the circuit voltage and resistance are known?

Community Answer

E = IR; if you have voltage and resistance, then you can find the current to then find the power. I = E/R, so get the current and plug that into the formula P = IE, then you have the power.

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What direction do currents flow in?

Gabeericwolf

Community Answer

Current flows in the opposite direction of the electron flow. In a simple circuit, current flows from the positive terminal of the battery to the negative terminal of the battery, while electrons flow from the negative terminal of the battery to the positive terminal of the battery.

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Question

Why did you divide the total resistance (5) by 6?

Community Answer

They added up the resistances. In order to add up 1/2 and 1/3, we need to put them in a form with the same denominator. In this case that means multiplying the numerator and denominator of 1/2 by 3 (which gives 3/6) and multiplying the numerator and denominator of 1/3 by 2 (which gives 2/6) to get two fractions with denominator 6, which you can then add and get 5/6.

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