17. alyssa just bought a new set of string lights for her bedroom. she decided to use the lights to outline her mirror. the lights are on a series circuit. if alyssa were to buy more lights so that they can go all around her bedroom, what will happen to following quantities? :

a. the resistance of the entire circuit will (increase/decrease).
b. the current through each bulb will (increase/decrease).
c. the voltage available to each bulb will (increase/decrease).

a. The resistance will increase

b. The current will decrease

c. The voltage through each bulb will

Explanation:

a. For a series of resistors, the equivalent resistance is given by

so, we see that adding more resistors in series, will increase the total resistance.

b. In a series circuit, the current through each bulb is the same for each bulb, and it is equal to the current flowing in the circuit, which is given by Ohm's law

where V is the voltage supplied by the battery and R the total resistance of the circuit. Since the voltage provided by the battery, V, does not change, while the total resistance R increases, the current I will increase.

c. The voltage through each bulb is given by

where R_i is the resistance of the individual resistor and I is the current. Since the value of R_i does not change, while I (the current) has decreased, the voltage available to each bulb, V, will decrease.