Ham Radio General Class Practice Test

Which configuration provides the highest equivalent resistance?

1. Capacitors in series

2. Capacitors in parallel

3. Resistors in series

4. Resistors in parallel

The correct answer is: Resistors in series

In electrical circuits, the arrangement of components determines the overall behavior of the circuit. When looking for the configuration that provides the highest equivalent resistance, consider how resistors behave in different configurations. Resistors in series are added together directly, meaning the total resistance is the sum of each individual resistor’s resistance. For example, if you have three resistors, each of 10 ohms, their total or equivalent resistance when connected in series would be 10 + 10 + 10, resulting in 30 ohms. This direct summation leads to a higher total resistance because the current has only one path to take through each resistor sequentially. In contrast, resistors in parallel provide several paths for current to flow, leading to a lower equivalent resistance. The formula for total resistance in a parallel configuration results in a value that is less than the smallest individual resistor in the group. Capacitors also have specific configurations; when capacitors are arranged in parallel, their capacitance values simply add together, leading to a higher equivalent capacitance, while in series, the total capacitance is less than the lowest individual capacitor’s capacitance. When determining which configuration yields the highest equivalent resistance, the arrangement of resistors in series clearly results in a higher