What current would flow in an ordinary 115 V household circuit, if a 1430 W hair drier and a 1000 W microwave oven were operating simultaneously on this line?How much current would the hair drier and microwave from the previous question draw, if they were connected to the 115 V line in series?

Answer 1

Operated simultaneously and in parallel, the total power drawn would be 1430 + 1000 = 2430 W

2430 W = 115V * (total current)

Solve for total current.

In series, neither unit would operate at full voltage and power. You need to determine what the resistance of each appliance is. That will presumably be independent of applied voltage.

V^2/R(drier) = 1430 W (rated power)
Using V = 115 V,
R(drier) = 9.25 ohms

V^2/R(oven) = 1000W
R(oven) = 13.23 ohm

I(series circuit) = V/(9.25+13.23)
= 115/22.48 ohms
(much less than the parallel case)