Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Cannot be determined from the information provided
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Total power in a circuit equals the sum of individual element powers. To compute it, you need at least one of the following for each element or for the whole network: voltage and current, resistance and current, or voltage and resistance. If the stem mentions a “given circuit” but supplies no values, the problem is underdetermined, and no unique numeric answer exists.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Select the appropriate power expression: P = V * I, or P = I^2 * R, or P = V^2 / R. Each requires specific numeric inputs. In network form, P_total can also be derived from source power if the source voltage and current are known. Lacking all such data, a numeric result is impossible.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Verification / Alternative check:
Even if a schematic were referenced, without numerical labels or measured values you cannot evaluate power. Any proposed number would be speculative.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
64 µW, 4 µW, 0 W, and 16 × 10^−12 W are arbitrary in the absence of circuit data. “0 W” might be true only for an open-circuited, unpowered network—an assumption not given.
Common Pitfalls:
Picking a small number thinking it is “safe.” Correct engineering requires evidence-based calculation, not guessing.
Final Answer:
Cannot be determined from the information provided
Discussion & Comments