In an electrical circuit, there are two resistors (R1 = 5 Ω and R2 = 10 Ω) connected in series with a 15 V battery. What is the voltage drop across R2, according to Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL)?

Solution:

To solve this problem, we need to use Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL) and the concept of series circuits. Let's go through the detailed steps to find the voltage drop across R2.

Step 1: Understanding Series Circuits

In a series circuit, the current flowing through each component is the same, but the voltage drop across each component can be different. The total resistance in a series circuit is the sum of the individual resistances.

Given:

• R1 = 5 Ω
• R2 = 10 Ω
• V (total voltage) = 15 V

Step 2: Calculate the Total Resistance

The total resistance (Rtotal) in a series circuit is the sum of the resistances of the individual resistors:

R_total = R₁ + R₂

Rtotal = 5 Ω + 10 Ω = 15 Ω

Step 3: Calculate the Total Current

Using Ohm's Law, we can calculate the total current (I) flowing through the circuit:

V = I × Rtotal 

15 V = I × 15 Ω

I = 15 V / 15 Ω

I = 1 A

Step 4: Calculate the Voltage Drop Across R2

Now that we have the current flowing through the circuit, we can calculate the voltage drop across R2 using Ohm's Law:

V_R2 = I × R₂

VR2 = 1 A × 10 Ω

VR2  = 10 V