Which Resistor Dissipates the Most Power?

So P∝1/R and a smaller resistor dissipates more heat.

Which resistor will dissipate the most power in series?

In general, if the power consumed would depend on the circuit structure. But for a simple case, such as two resistors connected in series versus the same resistors connected in parallel (with identical voltage sources in both), the power dissipated in the parallel combination will be greater.

Which resistor dissipates the larger amount of power?

From the boxed equation, power is inversely proportional to resistance. The lower the resistance the higher the power. Therefore, R2 dissipates larger amount of power.

Sarah Jenkins

Sarah Jenkins

Senior Technology Editor & AI Specialist

Sarah Jenkins is a veteran tech journalist with over 12 years of experience covering artificial intelligence, mobile innovations, and digital ethics. Her insights have appeared in leading technology publications worldwide.