Which configuration would require the most electrical power during operation?

To determine which configuration requires the most electrical power during operation, it's essential to calculate the power consumed by each of the options given. Power can be calculated using the formula:

[ \text{Power (Watts)} = \text{Voltage (Volts)} \times \text{Current (Amperes)} ]

Now, let's evaluate the correct choice:

In the configuration with two lights requiring 3 amps each in a 24 volt parallel system, each light operates independently, so the total current drawn will be the sum of the currents of the two lights. Thus, the power for each light is calculated first:

Power for one light:
[ \text{Power} = 24 \text{ volts} \times 3 \text{ amps} = 72 \text{ watts} ]

Since there are two such lights: [ \text{Total Power} = 72 \text{ watts} + 72 \text{ watts} = 144 \text{ watts} ]

This demonstrates that this configuration consumes a total of 144 watts of electrical power during operation.

By understanding this power calculation, it becomes clear why this choice requires the most power in comparison to the other configurations. Each of the other