How do you calculate the total resistance of resistors in series?

When resistors are connected in series, the total resistance is calculated by summing up the individual resistances of each resistor. This is based on the principle that the current flowing through a series circuit is the same at every point and that the total voltage in the circuit is equal to the sum of the voltage drops across each resistor.

Mathematically, if you have resistors R1, R2, R3, etc., the total resistance (R_total) can be expressed as:

R_total = R1 + R2 + R3 + ...

This method accurately accounts for the cumulative effect of each resistor's opposition to the flow of current, resulting in a higher overall resistance. Understanding this summation is crucial in circuit analysis and design, as it affects how circuits behave under varying loads and power conditions.