ASVAB · Circuits and Ohm's Law

If two 60-watt incandescent light bulbs are connected in parallel to a 120V power source, what is the total current drawn from the source?

Correct answer

1 A

  1. A 0.5 A
  2. B 1 A
  3. C 120 A
  4. D 2 A

Why this is the answer

Each bulb individually: P = VI, so I = P/V = 60/120 = 0.5 A. In parallel, currents add: total I = 0.5 + 0.5 = 1 A. Verify: total power = 60 + 60 = 120W; P = VI = 120 × 1 = 120W ✓. Parallel circuit principles: (1) SAME VOLTAGE across all branches (each bulb gets full 120V); (2) CURRENTS ADD (total = sum of branch currents); (3) Each branch operates independently — turning one off doesn't affect the other. If the same two bulbs were in SERIES: each would get half the voltage (60V), so each would operate at 1/4 normal brightness (power = V²/R, so half voltage means 1/4 power). Both bulbs would draw the same current. Calculation: each bulb's resistance = V²/P = 120²/60 = 240Ω. In series, total R = 240 + 240 = 480Ω. Current = V/R = 120/480 = 0.25 A. Power dissipated = I²R = 0.0625 × 480 = 30W total (15W per bulb) — far dimmer than rated. This is why household appliances are wired in parallel, not series — each gets full voltage and full power regardless of others. Christmas lights: old-style series-wired light strings each bulb gets a fraction of line voltage (120V/50 bulbs = 2.4V per bulb); when one bulb burns out, the entire string goes out. Modern strings either use parallel wiring or have shunt mechanisms in each bulb that bypass burned-out filaments. LED Christmas lights use LEDs with appropriate series resistors and circuit design. ASVAB EI calculations: practice converting between V, I, R, P using Ohm's Law and Power Law, and applying series/parallel rules. Watts, volts, amps, and ohms are the four fundamental electrical quantities — knowing any two often lets you calculate the others.
Source: ASVAB EI, Parallel Circuit Calculations

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About this topic: Circuits and Ohm's Law

Circuits and Ohm's Law questions ask you to calculate voltage, current, resistance or power, and to understand series versus parallel circuits — how resistance adds in series and reduces in parallel, and what happens when one component fails. This is one of 17 Electronics Information questions on circuits and ohm's law, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

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