One way to calculate the total power in a series circuit is to ? the component wattages.

• A. add
• B. divide
• C. multiply
• D. subtract

Answer: (A)

In a series circuit the same current flows through every component, and the total power is the sum of the power dissipated by each component. Each element converts some of the electrical energy per unit time, and those rates add up. Mathematically, the total power equals P_total = P1 + P2 + P3 + ... because Pk = IkVk and the current I is the same for all components, so P_total = I(V1 + V2 + V3 + ...) = I * V_total. So adding the component wattages correctly gives the total power. Dividing, multiplying, or subtracting wouldn’t reflect the way energy conversion accumulates across the series path.