When two 500-ohm 1-watt resistors are connected in series, the maximum total power that can be dissipated by the resistors is:

When resistors are connected in series, the total power dissipated by the circuit is the sum of the power dissipated by each individual resistor. Because both resistors share the exact same resistance (500 ohms), the applied voltage drops equally across them, meaning they heat up at the exact same rate. Since each individual resistor can safely dissipate a maximum of 1 watt, you simply add their maximum ratings together. One 1-watt resistor plus another 1-watt resistor equals a maximum total power dissipation of 2 watts. Distractors like 0.5 watts or 1 watt might trick learners who mistakenly apply the formulas for parallel resistance or series capacitance to power ratings. Regardless of whether they are in series or parallel, the power capacities of identical resistors add up.