Help Calculate Resistance Between Points A & B - Kirchoff's Law

  • Thread starter Thread starter marlon
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Resistance
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the equivalent resistance between two points, A and B, in a circuit using Kirchhoff's laws. The circuit consists of multiple resistors, with one resistor valued at 2R and others at R. The original poster mentions a target solution of (13/11)R but has calculated (9/5)R instead.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the application of Kirchhoff's laws to analyze the circuit. Questions arise regarding the validity of the target resistance value and the significance of certain resistors in the circuit. Some participants suggest alternative methods for solving the problem.

Discussion Status

There is an ongoing exploration of different approaches to the problem, with some participants providing partial analyses and equations. While some guidance has been offered, there is no explicit consensus on the correct solution or method at this stage.

Contextual Notes

Participants note potential misunderstandings regarding the circuit configuration and the values of the resistors. The original poster's calculations and assumptions are being scrutinized, and there are references to external resources for further exploration.

marlon
Messages
3,779
Reaction score
11
hi guys,

i need to calculate the substitution resistance between the points A and B of the chain in the attached picture. Each rectangle is a resistance R , except the resistance on the right-top of the figure. That has value 2R ; and the solution has to be (13/11)R. I know that we have to use Kirchoff's laws, yet I do not seem to be able to solve it, i Get (9/5)R. Maybe you can.


regards
marlon
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
How are you sure it's (13/11) R? It looks like just R to me -- the middle resistance is inconsequential, since it's between two nodes that are always at the same potential.

- Warren
 
chroot said:
How are you sure it's (13/11) R? It looks like just R to me -- the middle resistance is inconsequential, since it's between two nodes that are always at the same potential.

- Warren

yes, you are right. But i made a little mistake. All resistances are R except the resistance on the right -top. It is 2R not R


Solution is certainly (13/11) R

regards
marlon
 
Well, the only thing I was able to do is to apply the two Kirchoff's laws to the chain. In the first knod I have for the currents : I_0=I_1+I_2 Then the two knods in the middel (say I_3 is the current in the middle) = I_1=I_3+I_4 and below I_2+I_3=I_4

Then the second law , I follow the two closed subchains clockwisely

first chain : -I_1R-I_3R = I_2R
second subchain : -I_4R+I_5R+I_3R = 0

regards
marlon
 
[tex]R_{eq}[/tex]=[tex]\frac{v}{i}[/tex] ...(1)

node 1 :
i + [tex]\frac{v_{1}-v}{R}[/tex] + [tex]\frac{v_{2}-v}{R}[/tex] = 0

i = [tex]\frac{-v_{1}-v_{2}+2R}{R}[/tex] ... (2)

node 2 :
[tex]\frac{v-v_{1}}{R}[/tex] + [tex]\frac{0-v_{1}}{2R}[/tex] + [tex]\frac{v_{2}-v_{1}}{R}[/tex] = 0

[tex]v_{2}[/tex] = [tex]\frac{-2v + 5v_{1}}{2}[/tex] ... (3)


node 3:

[tex]\frac{v_{1}-v_{2}}{R}[/tex] + [tex]\frac{0-v_{2}}{R}[/tex] + [tex]\frac{v-v_{2}}{R}[/tex] = 0

[tex]v_{1}[/tex] = -v + [tex]3v_{2}[/tex] ... (4)

Use (3) & (4) and substitute the answers into (1) get :

[tex]v_{2}[/tex] = [tex]\frac{7v}{13}[/tex]
[tex]v_{1}[/tex] =[tex]\frac{8v}{13}[/tex]
[tex]R_{eq}[/tex] = [tex]\frac{13R}{11}[/tex]

Node 1, 2 and 3 use Kirchoff's current law.
 
Last edited:
thanks to all of you for helping me out...

regards
marlon
 
you're welcome Marlon :wink: I love electronics
:biggrin: :-p
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
44
Views
5K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
Replies
4
Views
1K
Replies
7
Views
1K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
7K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K