Chapter 23, Problem 39A

To determine

To Explain:The household wiring is constructed in parallel instead of in series.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

Equivalent resistance for parallel combination can be obtained by:

  $R_{eq}={\left[\frac{1}{R_1}+\frac{1}{R_2}+\frac{1}{R_3}+\mathrm{....}\right]}^{-1}$

Equivalent resistance for series combination can be obtained by:

  $R_{eq}=R_1+R_2+R_3+\mathrm{...}$

In a parallel connection circuit, the voltage drop across each branch remains same.In a series circuit, the current in the circuit is same and the voltage across each resistor drops. The current in the circuit is equal to the voltage provided by the power source divided by the equivalent resistance of the circuit.

If the household wiring is connected in series and any appliance stops working, the whole circuit would break. This would cause the other appliances to not work as well. So, the household wiring is connected in parallel because if there is any problem in one connection, it would not affect the appliances connected through other branches.