A 3-ohm resistor has a power rating of 1.5 watts. What is the maximum current loading?

To determine the maximum current loading for a resistor, you can use the power formula related to electrical circuits, which states that power (P) is equal to the square of the current (I) flowing through the resistor multiplied by the resistance (R). This can be expressed mathematically as:

[ P = I^2 \times R ]

Rearranging this formula to solve for current (I) gives:

[ I = \sqrt{\frac{P}{R}} ]

In this question, the power rating is 1.5 watts, and the resistance is 3 ohms. Plugging these values into the rearranged formula:

1. Calculate ( \frac{P}{R} ):

[ \frac{1.5 \text{ W}}{3 \text{ ohms}} = 0.5 ]

2. Now, take the square root:

[ I = \sqrt{0.5} ]

[ I \approx 0.707 \text{ amps} ]

This calculation shows that the maximum current loading this 3-ohm resistor can handle, given its power rating, is approximately 0.707 amps. Therefore, this answer is supported by Ohm's Law and ensures