What is the total resistance of three 12-ohm resistors connected in series?

What is the total resistance of three 12-ohm resistors connected in series?

• A. 36 Ohms
• B. 12 Ohms
• C. 24 Ohms
• D. 144 Ohms

Answer: (A)

In a series circuit, the same current flows through every resistor and the total resistance is the sum of the individual resistances. So with three 12-ohm resistors in series, you add them all up: 12 + 12 + 12 equals 36 ohms. That means the total resistance seen by the source is 36 ohms. The other numbers don’t fit the series rule: 12 ohms would be just one resistor, 24 ohms would be two resistors in series, and 144 ohms doesn’t arise from simply adding three 12-ohm resistors in series.

In a series circuit, the same current flows through every resistor and the total resistance is the sum of the individual resistances. So with three 12-ohm resistors in series, you add them all up: 12 + 12 + 12 equals 36 ohms.

That means the total resistance seen by the source is 36 ohms. The other numbers don’t fit the series rule: 12 ohms would be just one resistor, 24 ohms would be two resistors in series, and 144 ohms doesn’t arise from simply adding three 12-ohm resistors in series.