In a series circuit, the total power is equal to the sum of the power dissipated by each resistor.

In a series circuit, the total power is equal to the sum of the power dissipated by each resistor.

• A. Power dissipated
• B. Resistance dissipated
• C. Voltage dissipated
• D. Current dissipated

Answer: (A)

In a series circuit, the same current flows through every resistor, so each resistor dissipates power P_i = I^2 R_i (or P_i = V_i I). The total power drawn from the source is P_total = I^2 R_total, with R_total = sum R_i. Since R_total is the sum of the individual resistances, P_total = sum (I^2 R_i) = sum P_i. That means the total power equals the sum of the powers dissipated by each resistor. The other terms don’t describe energy conversion in this way—resistance adds in series, voltage splits across elements, and current remains the same—so power dissipated is the correct way to express the total.

In a series circuit, the same current flows through every resistor, so each resistor dissipates power P_i = I^2 R_i (or P_i = V_i I). The total power drawn from the source is P_total = I^2 R_total, with R_total = sum R_i. Since R_total is the sum of the individual resistances, P_total = sum (I^2 R_i) = sum P_i. That means the total power equals the sum of the powers dissipated by each resistor. The other terms don’t describe energy conversion in this way—resistance adds in series, voltage splits across elements, and current remains the same—so power dissipated is the correct way to express the total.