Try it
3 resistors in series - one path, resistances add
Total resistance1.02 kΩ
Understand the result
What's going on
Chain resistors one after another - same current has to squeeze through every one of them in turn - and each resistor adds its own bit of opposition on top of the last. There’s no shortcut here and no need for one.
The formula
R_total = R1 + R2 + R3 + …
Show the derivation, mnemonic, and worked example
Build it up
Current has exactly one path to follow through a series chain, so whatever resistance the first resistor adds, the second adds more on top, and the third more still. The total opposition the current feels is just those oppositions stacked up.
Worked example
Worked example
R1 = 220 Ω, R2 = 330 Ω, R3 = 470 Ω
R_total = 220 + 330 + 470
R_total = 1,020 Ω
