Question

Two students (A) and (B) connect their two given resistors R₁ and R₂ in the manners shown below :






Student (A) connects the terminals marked (b₁) and (c₁) while student (B) connects the terminals marked (d₂) and (c₂) in their respective circuits at the points marked X and Y.
Which one of the following is correct in relation to the above arrangements?
(1) both the students will determine the equivalent resistance of the series combination of the two resistors.
(2) both the students will determine the equivalent resistance of the parallel combination of the two resistors
(3) student (A) will determine the equivalent resistance of the series combination while student (B) will determine the equivalent resistance of the parallel combination of the two resistors.
(4) student (A) will determine the equivalent resistance of the parallel combination while student (B) will determine the equivalent resistance of the series combination of the two resistors.

Answer 1

In combination made by student A, only one end of the resistors are in contact so they are connected in series. But, in the combination made by student B, both the ends of both the resistances are connected together, so they are connected in parallel.

When both the combinations are connected across the ends X and Y of the circuit, student A will find the equivalent resistance of the series combination, while the student will find the equivalent resistance of parallel combination.

Hence, the correct answer is option 3.