Power consumed by heaters connected in series

[dmolson]

Homework Statement

Q20-9. The power rating of a 1480 W heater specifies the power consumed when the heater is connected to an ac voltage of 120V. What is the power consumed by two of these heaters connected in series, connected to the same voltage?

I am a little new to the electricity field of physics, any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
My first guess was that the power would be twice as much, but that is incorrect (2960 W)

 

[Kurdt]

What equations do you know that relate voltage to power? Did you know that when in series the voltage is split between the components.

 

[m2003]

because the voltage would be the same but the current would be cut in half (120V/2 = 60V).



Thank you for reaching out for assistance. As you mentioned, the power consumed by two heaters connected in series would not be twice as much, but rather the same as a single heater. This is because when connected in series, the voltage across each heater remains the same (120V in this case), but the current is divided between the two heaters. Therefore, the total power consumed by the two heaters would be 1480 W, the same as a single heater. This can be calculated using the formula P = VI, where P is power, V is voltage, and I is current. In this case, P = 120V x 120V/120V = 1480 W. I hope this helps clarify the concept for you. Keep up the good work in your studies!