High School

Imagine having three 1.5 V batteries. Which of the following voltages would be impossible to get from a combination of all three batteries?

1) 4.5 V
2) 3 V
3) 1.5 V
4) 6 V

Answer :

Combining three 1.5 V batteries can give you 4.5 V, 3 V, or 1.5 V, but not 6 V, since this would require four batteries in series. Hence the correct answer is option 4, 6V.

When considering the voltages that would be impossible to get from a combination of all three 1.5 V batteries, we need to understand how batteries can be combined. If you connect the batteries in series (end-to-end), their voltages add up. Therefore, three 1.5 V batteries in series give a total voltage of 4.5 V (1.5 V + 1.5 V + 1.5 V). If you put two batteries in series for 3 V and use the third battery separately, you can still have 1.5 V. However, it is impossible to achieve 6 V because you would need four 1.5 V batteries in series to reach this voltage. Hence the correct answer is option 4, 6V.