160  SERIES CIRCUITS S

PROBLEMS

SECTION 5.2 Series Circuits

1. Find the total resistance and current I for each circuit of

Fig. 5.71.

I 2V 6V 12 V I 200 kV 1 MV
E = 60 V E 10 V 330 kV

RT RT 0.1 MV

(a) (b)

I 15 V
1.2 kV
E = 35 V 10 V 25 V 25 V
E = 120 V 4.5 kV
RT
RT I

25 V 10 V 3 kV 1.3 kV 2.2 kV
(c) (d)

FIG. 5.71

Problems 1 and 36.

2. For the circuits of Fig. 5.72, the total resistance is speci-

fied. Find the unknown resistances and the current I for
each circuit.

12.6 kV R

10 V 12 V I
30 V R 60 V
RT = 30 V
I RT = 60 kV

45 kV 0.4 kV
(a) (b)
E
RT = 1.6 MV
I 50 V R1 60 V 0.2 MV
50 V
120 V 100 kV 56 kV
RT = 220 V I

R2 = R 1 10 V R
(c) (d)

FIG. 5.72

Problem 2.
 S PROBLEMS  161

3. Find the applied voltage E necessary to develop the cur-

rent specified in each network of Fig. 5.73.

60 V 1.2 kV 1.2 V 8.2 V 4.7 V

I = 4 mA
E 2.74 kV E 2.7 V

I = 250 mA

(a) (b)

FIG. 5.73

Problem 3.

*4. For each network of Fig. 5.74, determine the current I,

the source voltage E, the unknown resistance, and the
voltage across each element.

E
5V

I P = 79.2 mW
+
E 2V 12 V 3.3 kV 2.2 kV
RT = 16 V –
I R

R – 9V +
(a) (b)

FIG. 5.74

Problem 4.

SECTION 5.3 Voltage Sources in Series

5. Determine the current I and its direction for each network

of Fig. 5.75. Before solving for I, redraw each network
with a single voltage source.

16 V 4V 18 V
4.7 V
I

8V 4V 1.2 V

I
4.7 V 5.6 V 5.6 V
10 V
(a) (b)

FIG. 5.75

Problem 5.
162  SERIES CIRCUITS S
*6. Find the unknown voltage source and resistor for the net-
works of Fig. 5.76. Also indicate the direction of the
resulting current.

E 6V
– + 5 kV – + – 12 V +

P = 100 mW + R
–
I = 5 mA R 16 V 2 kV 8V
– +

+ – – +
20 V E
(a) (b)

FIG. 5.76

Problem 6.

SECTION 5.4 Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law

7. Find Vab with polarity for the circuits of Fig. 5.77. Each
box can contain a load or a power supply, or a combina-
tion of both.

R
+ + – – +
2V + + 20 V a
10 V 3V 60 V V ab
– – b
Open
– – 10 V + circuit

b a
V ab

(a) (b)

FIG. 5.77

Problem 7.

8. Although the networks of Fig. 5.78 are not simply series

circuits, determine the unknown voltages using Kirch-
hoff’s voltage law.

V2
+ –
+ 6V – R2 = 5.6 kV
10 V 6V
+ + 24 V
+ +
10 V V1
– V2 – – V1 R1 2.2 kV
–

(a) (b)

FIG. 5.78

Problem 8.
 S PROBLEMS  163

9. Determine the current I and the voltage V1 for the net-

work of Fig. 5.79.

9V
+ V1 –

2.2 kV
I + V1 – + V2 – + V3 –
27 V 1.2 kV
3 kV 1 kV 2 kV
120 V
0.56 kV I RT
5V

FIG. 5.79 FIG. 5.80

Problem 9. Problem 10.

10. For the circuit of Fig. 5.80:

a. Find the total resistance, current, and unknown volt-
age drops.
b. Verify Kirchhoff’s voltage law around the closed – V4 + – V3 +
loop.
22 V 10 V –
c. Find the power dissipated by each resistor, and note RT
6V 5.6 V V2
whether the power delivered is equal to the power dis-
I 33 V +
sipated.
d. If the resistors are available with wattage ratings of + –
V1
1/2, 1, and 2 W, what minimum wattage rating can be
used for each resistor in this circuit? FIG. 5.81

11. Repeat Problem 10 for the circuit of Fig. 5.81. Problem 11.
*12. Find the unknown quantities in the circuits of Fig. 5.82
using the information provided.

+ V – + 80 V – – 8V + – V1 +

I 20 V R 2.2 V 4.7 V –
120 V E 6.8 V V2
I +

(a) (b)
+ V1 – + V2 – P = 8W

2V 1V P = 21 W I R1 R2 P = 4W
1A +
E R V3 E
1V
–
RT = 16 V

(c) (d)

FIG. 5.82

Problem 12.

13. Eight holiday lights are connected in series as shown in

Fig. 5.83.
a. If the set is connected to a 120-V source, what is the
current through the bulbs if each bulb has an internal
resistance of 28}18} V?
b. Determine the power delivered to each bulb.
c. Calculate the voltage drop across each bulb.
d. If one bulb burns out (that is, the filament opens), FIG. 5.83

what is the effect on the remaining bulbs? Problem 13.

164  SERIES CIRCUITS S
R1 R2 *14. For the conditions specified in Fig. 5.84, determine the
24 W unknown resistance.
2V 4V
E 24 V R=?

SECTION 5.6 Voltage Divider Rule

15. Using the voltage divider rule, find Vab (with polarity) for
FIG. 5.84
the circuits of Fig. 5.85.
Problem 14.

Vab

a
25 V 20 V 10 V a 4V b

100 V 50 V Vab 80 V 6V

b
(a) (b)

2.5 V a 1.5 V
a
4 kV 1 kV
2 kV
40 V Vab 0.36 V Vab 0.6 V
3 kV

b
0.5 V b 0.9 V
(c) (d)

FIG. 5.85

Problems 15 and 37.

16. Find the unknown resistance using the voltage divider

rule and the information provided for the circuits of Fig.
5.86.

3V
–
2 kV 6 kV +
20 V R 4V 200 V V = 140 V 6V
–
+
R
(a) (b)

FIG. 5.86

Problem 16.
 S PROBLEMS  165

40 V +12 V
I
+ R1
R3 V3 +4 V
–
+ R2 8V
R2 30 V V2
– –4 V
+
R3
R1 10 V 4 V
– –8 V

FIG. 5.88

FIG. 5.87 Problem 18.

Problem 17.

17. Referring to Fig. 5.87:

a. Determine V2 by simply noting that R2 5 3R1.
b. Calculate V3. +48 V
c. Noting the magnitude of V3 compared to V2 or V1, R1
determine R3 by inspection. R2
d. Calculate the source current I.
+12 V
e. Calculate the resistance R3 using Ohm’s law, and 16 mA
compare it to the result of part (c). E 100 V R3
18. Given the information appearing in Fig. 5.88, find the
level of resistance for R1 and R3.
R4
19. a. Design a voltage divider circuit that will permit the
use of an 8-V, 50-mA bulb in an automobile with a –20 V
12-V electrical system.
b. What is the minimum wattage rating of the chosen FIG. 5.89
resistor if 1⁄4-W, 1⁄2-W and 1-W resistors are available? Problem 20.
20. Determine the values of R1, R2, R3, and R4 for the voltage
divider of Fig. 5.89 if the source current is 16 mA.
21. Design the voltage divider of Fig. 5.90 such that VR1 5
(1/5)VR2 if I 5 4 mA.
+ 72 V –
22. Find the voltage across each resistor of Fig. 5.91 if R1 5
2R3 and R2 5 7R3. I R1 R2
23. a. Design the circuit of Fig. 5.92 such that VR2 5 3VR1
and VR3 5 4VR2. FIG. 5.90

b. If the current I is reduced to 10 mA, what are the new Problem 21.
values of R1, R2, and R3? How do they compare to the
results of part (a)?

+
R1 V1
–
+
60 V R2 V2 I = 10 mA R1 R2
–
+
R3 V3 +
– E 64 V R3
–

FIG. 5.91 FIG. 5.92

Problem 22. Problem 23.

166  SERIES CIRCUITS S
SECTION 5.7 Notation

24. Determine the voltages Va, Vb, and Vab for the networks
of Fig. 5.93.

12 V
Va Vb Va Vb + 10 V Va Vb

8V 20 V 6V 4V 3V 21 V 8V

(a) (b) (c)

FIG. 5.93

Problem 24.

30 V 25. Determine the current I (with direction) and the voltage V

I –70 V (with polarity) for the networks of Fig. 5.94.
I 20 V
6V 3V V

10 V
120 V 60 V
–10 V
V
(a) (b)

FIG. 5.94

Problem 25.

26. Determine the voltages Va and V1 for the networks of

Fig. 5.95.

8V
Va

10 V +
20 V + V1 – Va –8V
16 V V1
– + 12 V 2.2 kV
10 V 3.3 kV

(a) (b)

FIG. 5.95

Problem 26.

2 kV 3 kV 47 V *27. For the network of Fig. 5.96, determine the voltages:

a b c d a. Va, Vb, Vc, Vd, Ve
b. Vab, Vdc, Vcb
c. Vac, Vdb
20 V 4 kV

FIG. 5.96

Problem 27.
 S PROBLEMS  167

*28. For the network of Fig. 5.97, determine the voltages: a 2 kV

a. Va, Vb, Vc, Vd b
b. Vab, Vcb, Vcd
c. Vad, Vca 44 V 4 kV

20 V 6 kV

FIG. 5.97

Problem 28.

*29. For the integrated circuit of Fig. 5.98, determine V0, V4, 6 mA
V7, V10, V23, V30, V67, V56, and I (magnitude and direc-
tion). 2 kV
–2 V

–8 V 4 5 4V
3 6
I
4V

2 7
–2 V 1 0

20 V

FIG. 5.98

Problem 29.

*30. For the integrated circuit of Fig. 5.99, determine V0, V03, Ii 2 mA
V2, V23, V12, and Ii. 1 2
20 V 3 kV
E 10 mA
0 3
5 mA 1 kV

SECTION 5.8 Internal Resistance of Voltage Sources

31. Find the internal resistance of a battery that has a no-load

FIG. 5.99
output voltage of 60 V and that supplies a current of 2 A
to a load of 28 V. Problem 30.

32. Find the voltage VL and the power loss in the internal
resistance for the configuration of Fig. 5.100.
Rint = 0.05 V
33. Find the internal resistance of a battery that has a no-load
output voltage of 6 V and supplies a current of 10 mA to +
a load of 1/2 kV.
E = 12 V VL 3.3 V
SECTION 5.9 Voltage Regulation
–
34. Determine the voltage regulation for the battery of Prob-
lem 31.
35. Calculate the voltage regulation for the supply of Fig. FIG. 5.100

5.100. Problems 32 and 35.

168  SERIES CIRCUITS S
SECTION 5.12 Computer Analysis
PSpice or Electronics Workbench
36. Using schematics, determine the current I and the voltage
across each resistor for the network of Fig. 5.71(a).
37. Using schematics, determine the voltage Vab for the net-
work of Fig. 5.85(d).

Programming Language (C11,QBASIC,Pascal,etc.)

38. Write a program to determine the total resistance of any
8V number of resistors in series.
I PL 39. Write a program that will apply the voltage divider rule
RL to either resistor of a series circuit with a single source
12 V
and two series resistors.
40. Write a program to tabulate the current and power to the
resistor RL of the network of Fig. 5.101 for a range of
FIG. 5.101 values for RL from 1 V to 20 V. Print out the value of RL
Problem 40. that results in maximum power to RL.

GLOSSARY
Branch The portion of a circuit consisting of one or more
elements in series.
Circuit A combination of a number of elements joined at ter-
minal points providing at least one closed path through
which charge can flow.
Closed loop Any continuous connection of branches that
allows tracing of a path that leaves a point in one direction
and returns to that same point from another direction with-
out leaving the circuit.
Conventional current flow A defined direction for the flow
of charge in an electrical system that is opposite to that of
the motion of electrons.
Electron flow The flow of charge in an electrical system hav-
ing the same direction as the motion of electrons.
Internal resistance The inherent resistance found internal to
any source of energy.
Kirchhoff’s voltage law (KVL) The algebraic sum of the
potential rises and drops around a closed loop (or path) is
zero.
Series circuit A circuit configuration in which the elements
have only one point in common and each terminal is not
connected to a third, current-carrying element.
Voltage divider rule (VDR) A method by which a voltage in
a series circuit can be determined without first calculating
the current in the circuit.
Voltage regulation (VR) A value, given as a percent, that
provides an indication of the change in terminal voltage of
a supply with a change in load demand.