What is the minimum resistance which can be made using five resistors each of 1/5 Ω?
(a) 1/5 Ω
(b) 1/25 Ω
(c) 1/10 Ω
(d) 25 Ω
4 Answers
Minimum resistance is observed when they are connected in parallel (you can take it as a thumb rule that the resistance of a group of resistors connected in parallel will be less then the minimum resistance present in the group)
thus net resistance 1/R = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + .... and so it can be calculated to be 1/25
The answer is (b) 1/25 Ω
Minimum resistance is obtained when resistors are connected parallel
1 /R = 5 + 5 + 5 +5 +5
= 25 Ω
R = 1/25
You know, equivalent resistance decreases when resistors are joined in parallel.
e.g., 1/Req = 1/R₁ + 1/R₂ + 1/R₃ + 1/R₄ + ....... + 1/Rn . While equivalent resistance increases when resistors are joined in series e.g., Req = R₁ + R₂ + R₃ + .... + Rn.
it Means, we can get minimum resistance when all the given resistors will join in parallel. And we can get maximum resistance when all the resistors will join in series .
∴ for finding minimum resistance , we have to join all resistors in parallel.
So , 1/Req = 1/(1/5) + 1/(1/5) + 1/(1/5) + 1/(1/5) + 1/(1/5)
1/Req = 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 25
Req = 1/25 Ω
Hence , minimum resistance = 1/25 Ω