Electric Circuit Help: Finding Current and Voltage in a Complex Circuit

[Winner]

Electric Circuit help!

Ok here's my question:

For the cirucit shown in the drawing(attached), find the current (I) through the 2.00 ohm resistor and the voltage (V) of the battery to the left of this resistor.

Ok, should I be using Kirchoff's drop=rise, and junction rules?

It doesn't seem to work because my voltage is also unknown. Could I possibly add them resistors in series/parallel?

Any directions appreciated. Thanks

 

[xanthym]

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[Winner]

Hmm, I can download it without problems. Well here it is again.

 

[Winner]

Ok for those who can't get it:


4ohm 8ohm
|---/\/\/\-----/\/\/\---|
| ---->3amps |
|__/\/\/\_______|l____|
| 6ohm 24V |
| <--- I=? |
|___|l________/\/\/\__|
V=? 2ohm

That's the best I can do with keyboard lol.

 

[Winner]

Darn, picture got messed up. sorry. The I=? is suppose to be far right, so with the 24 V.

 

[xanthym]

Ok for those who can't get it:


4ohm 8ohm
|---/\/\/\-----/\/\/\---|
| ---->3amps |
|__/\/\/\_______|l____|
| 6ohm 24V |
| <--- I=? |
|___|l________/\/\/\__|
V=? 2ohm

That's the best I can do with keyboard lol.

Which branch (top or middle) does the "3 amps" refer to??
(Hint: Enclose such diagrams within CODE & /CODE tags to preserve spacing.)

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[Winner]

It refers to the top one, and the one you have to find refers to the bottom one, sorry. I'm not too familiar with tags but I'll keep that in mind thanks.

 

[xanthym]

     4ohm       8ohm
|---/\/\/\-----/\/\/\---|
|     3amps ---->       |
|                       |
|__/\/\/\_______|l______|
|   6ohm        24V     |
|                       |
|            <---- I=?  |
|___|l________/\/\/\____|
    V=?        2ohm

The solution is obtained using Kirchoff's Laws. For this purpose, the following are established:
{(+) Current Direction in Top Branch} = {Left-to-Right} = I_T
{(+) Current Direction in Middle Branch} = {Right-to-Left} = I_M
{(+) Current Direction in Bottom Branch} = {Right-to-Left} = I_B

We first note the Top Branch has equiv resistance R_T=(4 + 8)=(12 Ω) thru which flows (3 amps), thereby indicating a voltage drop (using Ohm's Law) of ΔV=(-)(3 amps)*(12 ohms)=(-36 V). Thus, applying Kirchoff's Laws:
(1) ---> Voltage Loop Clockwise Top & Middle Branches
Begin top-left corner (clockwise):
(-36 V) + (24 V) - (6 ohms)*I_M = 0
::: ⇒ I_M = (-2 amps)

(2) ---> Current Node Left Side Middle Branch
Into node is (+):
I_M + I_B - I_T = 0
::: ⇒ (-2 amps) + I_B - (3 amps) = 0
::: ⇒ I_B = (5 amps)

(3) ---> Voltage Loop Clockwise Top & Bottom Branches
Begin top-left corner (clockwise):
(-36 V) - (2 ohms)*I_B + V_B = 0
::: ⇒ (-36 V) - (2 ohms)*(5 amps) + V_B = 0
::: ⇒ V_B = (46 V)



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[F|234K]

IM = (-2 amps)

what does negative currents mean? flow the opposite direction?

 

[xanthym]

IM = (-2 amps)

what does negative currents mean? flow the opposite direction?

A "negative current" means the computed current flows in the direction opposite to the direction defined to be the (+) direction when setting up the solution. For the middle branch (to which I_m refers), the (+) direction was initially defined to be {Right-to-Left}. Thus, the actual computed current of (-2 amps) will flow {Left-to-Right}. The value of I_m=(-2 amps) automatically indicates this and must be used whenever the middle branch current value is required in Kirchoff's Laws.
(Note: The (+) current direction can initially be defined in any direction that is convenient to solving the problem. However, once defined, this initial definition must always be maintained throughout the solution.)


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