Select the correct answer.

What is the equivalent resistance in a parallel circuit that has the following three resistors: 6.8 ohms, 9.0 ohms, and 15.0 ohms?
A.
10.3 ohms
B.
30.8 ohms
C.
3.08 ohms
D.
0.80 ohms
E.
12.8 ohms

1 answer

To find the equivalent resistance (R_eq) in a parallel circuit, you can use the formula:

\[ \frac{1}{R_{eq}} = \frac{1}{R_1} + \frac{1}{R_2} + \frac{1}{R_3} \]

where \(R_1\), \(R_2\), and \(R_3\) are the resistances of the individual resistors.

In this case, we have:

  • \(R_1 = 6.8 , \text{ohms}\)
  • \(R_2 = 9.0 , \text{ohms}\)
  • \(R_3 = 15.0 , \text{ohms}\)

Calculating the reciprocal of each resistance:

\[ \frac{1}{R_1} = \frac{1}{6.8} \approx 0.14706 \] \[ \frac{1}{R_2} = \frac{1}{9.0} \approx 0.11111 \] \[ \frac{1}{R_3} = \frac{1}{15.0} \approx 0.06667 \]

Now, add these values together:

\[ \frac{1}{R_{eq}} = 0.14706 + 0.11111 + 0.06667 \approx 0.32484 \]

Now, we take the reciprocal of this sum to find \(R_{eq}\):

\[ R_{eq} \approx \frac{1}{0.32484} \approx 3.08 , \text{ohms} \]

So the equivalent resistance is approximately 3.08 ohms.

Thus, the correct answer is:

C. 3.08 ohms