Question

graph shows a square with a battery on the left and 3 bulbs on the other sides top bottom and right
Which of the following would decrease the flow of current through the lights in the circuit shown above?

a
Increasing the battery voltage and increasing the resistance of the lights.
b
Increasing the battery voltage and decreasing the resistance of the lights.
c
Decreasing the battery voltage and decreasing the resistance of the lights.
d
Decreasing the battery voltage and increasing the resistance of the lights.

Answer 1

To analyze the options, we need to recall how voltage, current, and resistance relate to each other, as described by Ohm's Law, which states:

\[ I = \frac{V}{R} \]

where:
- \( I \) is the current,
- \( V \) is the voltage, and
- \( R \) is the resistance.

Now, let's examine the effect of each option on the flow of current through the circuit (the lights):

**a. Increasing the battery voltage and increasing the resistance of the lights.**
- Increasing voltage will increase current.
- Increasing resistance will decrease current.
- Overall effect is uncertain because one factor increases current and the other decreases it. However, typically, with a significantly larger increase in voltage, current may still increase.

**b. Increasing the battery voltage and decreasing the resistance of the lights.**
- Increasing voltage increases current.
- Decreasing resistance increases current.
- This option will definitely increase the flow of current.

**c. Decreasing the battery voltage and decreasing the resistance of the lights.**
- Decreasing voltage decreases current.
- Decreasing resistance increases current.
- Again, the overall effect will depend on the magnitudes of changes, but typically decreasing voltage is likely to have a stronger effect than decreasing resistance, leading to a decrease in current.

**d. Decreasing the battery voltage and increasing the resistance of the lights.**
- Decreasing voltage decreases current.
- Increasing resistance decreases current.
- Both factors work together to decrease current.

The option that consistently leads to a decrease in the flow of current through the lights is:

**d. Decreasing the battery voltage and increasing the resistance of the lights.**