If resistors are wired in parallel with values of 5 ohms, 10 ohms, and 20 ohms, what must be the voltage to force 2.4 amps?

To find the voltage required to force a specific current through resistors wired in parallel, it's essential to first determine the equivalent resistance of the parallel circuit. The formula for calculating the total resistance (R_total) in a parallel setup is given by:

1/R_total = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3

For the specified resistances of 5 ohms, 10 ohms, and 20 ohms, we can calculate the equivalent resistance:

1/R_total = 1/5 + 1/10 + 1/20

Calculating each term leads to:

1/R_total = 0.2 + 0.1 + 0.05 = 0.35

To find R_total, take the reciprocal:

R_total = 1/0.35 ≈ 2.857 ohms

Now, using Ohm's Law, which states that V = I * R, we can find the required voltage to force a current of 2.4 amps through the equivalent resistance:

V = I * R_total = 2.4 amps * 2.857 ohms ≈ 6.84 volts.

This calculation confirms that the correct voltage to achieve the desired