NCEA Level 2 Electricity Practice Exam

When resistors are added in series, the total resistance is calculated by simply summing the individual resistances of each resistor. This is because, in a series circuit, the same current flows through each resistor, and each resistor contributes to the overall opposition to the flow of electric current.

As the individual resistances are added together, the result is always greater than any single resistor in the series. This means that the total resistance increases with each additional resistor added. For example, if you have two 5-ohm resistors in series, the total resistance would be 5 ohms + 5 ohms, resulting in a total resistance of 10 ohms. Therefore, when multiple resistors are connected in series, the cumulative effect leads to an increase in total resistance.