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Two 6 ohm resistors are connected in parallel. What is their combined resistance?
A12 ohm
B3 ohm
C6 ohm
D36 ohm
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. 3 ohm
1. Adding resistors in parallel creates more paths along which current can flow.
2. More paths make it easier for charge to move, so the total resistance drops.
3. For two resistors in parallel the total is their product divided by their sum.
4. The product is 6 times 6, which is 36.
5. The sum is 6 plus 6, which is 12.
6. Dividing 36 by 12 gives 3 ohm.
7. The answer 12 ohm comes from adding them as if they were in series, which would raise the resistance instead.
8. Note that the total is always smaller than the smallest single resistor in a parallel set.
_Source: Siyavula Physical Sciences Grade 10 (Everything Science, CC BY 4.0), Chapter 17: Electric circuits_
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