Find E for 1.81 A Through 7.00-Ohm Resistor: EMF Circuit Help

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the electromotive force (emf) required for a specific current to flow through a 7.00-ohm resistor in a circuit. The problem involves analyzing a circuit with multiple resistors and emf sources, with a focus on applying Kirchhoff's laws.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss using Kirchhoff's junction rule to set up equations based on the currents at a junction. There are attempts to analyze the circuit using both outer and inner loops, but confusion arises regarding the unknown currents and voltages in the circuit.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on how to approach the problem by suggesting the use of Kirchhoff's laws and clarifying the relationships between the currents at the junction. There is recognition of the need for multiple equations to solve for the unknowns, but no consensus on a complete method has been reached.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the challenge of having multiple unknowns in the circuit, including the current through the 2-ohm resistor and the voltage from the middle emf source. The problem is complicated by the need to apply Kirchhoff's rules effectively.

joshanders_84
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What must the emf E in the figure be in order for the current through the 7.00 - Ohm resistor to be 1.81 A? Each emf source has negligible internal resistance.

I solved for I through the 3-ohm resistor using the outer loop: 24V - (1.81A)(7-Ohm) - (3 Ohm)(I) = 0 and got that I = 3.77. I don't know where to go from there, though. I tried using the two inner loops separately, as there are two unknowns (I through 2-Ohm resister and E), but they just canceled out, so I don't know where to go now. Thanks a lot, all help is appreciated
Josh
 

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Your in the right direction, use Kirchhoff's junction rule for current. (Sum of the currents entering any junction must equal the sum of the currents leaving that junction) This gives you one equation and two unknowns. Run the inner loop for the second equation.
 
Clarification...?

I tried using that, but I didn't see how to do it, because I don't know the current through the middle section w/the 2-ohm resistor. That being said, how do I make an equation? Would I do something like...man i don't know. I don't know what the current coming out of the 24V EMF is, either...maybe you can help me a bit further in the right direction? thanks
 
ok, my fault. I did not see that the voltage was unknown in the center section. You now have three equations with three unknowns. You know the current through the third section. So your unknowns are the current through the middle section, current through the first section and the voltage from the middle bat. Use junction rule and two loops for the equations. (junc rule: i1 = i2 + i3)
 
joshanders_84 said:
What must the emf E in the figure be in order for the current through the 7.00 - Ohm resistor to be 1.81 A? Each emf source has negligible internal resistance.

I solved for I through the 3-ohm resistor using the outer loop: 24V - (1.81A)(7-Ohm) - (3 Ohm)(I) = 0 and got that I = 3.77. I don't know where to go from there, though. I tried using the two inner loops separately, as there are two unknowns (I through 2-Ohm resister and E), but they just canceled out, so I don't know where to go now. Thanks a lot, all help is appreciated
Josh

Let the junction at the middle of the top section be A.

You have determined that the current entering A from the left is I = 3.77 A. This current must get split up into the two paths that leave A.

The path that goes towards the 7 Ohm resistor carries 1.81 A (given). So the rest of the current must travel down the middle path, through the 2 Ohm resistor.

With this you can find E, from either of the two inner loops.
 
O I C, got it now. Thank you for the help guys
 

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