With the switch closed in the circuit illustrated in figure "B", what is the total power consumed by the loads if the applied voltage is 24 volts and the resistance of R1 is 3 ohms, R2 is 4 ohms, and R3 is 5 ohms, respectively? See illustration EL-0020.
• Identify whether R1, R2, and R3 in figure B are in series or parallel when the switch is closed • Use Ohm’s Law ( I = \frac{V}{R} ) with the total resistance of the circuit • Use the power formula ( P = VI ) or ( P = I^2 R ) for the entire circuit
• Look at the path the current takes from the positive terminal of the source: does it have more than one path through the resistors, or only one? • Once you decide series or parallel, how do you combine the three resistor values (3 Ω, 4 Ω, 5 Ω) to get a single equivalent resistance? • After finding the circuit current, what is the total power used by ALL the resistors together?
• Be sure you have the correct total resistance for how the resistors are actually connected in figure B • Double‑check that you are using the applied voltage of 24 V across the equivalent resistance, not across each resistor individually (unless appropriate) • Confirm that your final power value matches one of the choices and has units of watts (W)
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