A Question in Voltage in a Circuit

  • Context: Engineering 
  • Thread starter Thread starter bibo_dvd
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Circuit Voltage
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the calculation of voltage across a resistor (V7) in a circuit using Ohm's Law. Participants explore the conditions under which Ohm's Law can be applied, particularly in the context of a circuit with multiple resistors and the implications of Kirchhoff's laws.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the validity of calculating V7 as V7=E/R7, suggesting that this approach is incorrect due to the presence of R6 in the circuit.
  • Another participant agrees with the first and emphasizes that Ohm's Law requires the voltage to be across the specific resistor in question, indicating that R6 affects the voltage across R7.
  • A different participant suggests that a simpler example might help clarify the situation, recommending a review of the voltage divider concept.
  • Another participant provides a detailed explanation of Kirchhoff's voltage law, illustrating how voltage divides across resistors in series and how to calculate the voltage across each resistor based on their values.
  • This participant also proposes a method for combining resistors in parallel to simplify the calculations, demonstrating the application of Ohm's Law and Kirchhoff's Current Law in the context of the original problem.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the necessity of considering the entire circuit configuration when applying Ohm's Law, but there is no consensus on the specific calculations or methods to be used. Multiple competing views on how to approach the problem remain evident.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying levels of understanding regarding the application of Ohm's Law and Kirchhoff's laws, indicating potential gaps in foundational knowledge that may affect their reasoning.

bibo_dvd
Messages
37
Reaction score
0
hello guys !

iam new at this forum and i have a question :))

nsY5ej1.png

MJGJgkK.png


The quesion is : why can't i calculate V7 from Ohm's Law So V7=E/R7
and it will be equal to 72/9=8V

Please answer me and thank you guys :)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
bibo_dvd said:
The quesion is : why can't i calculate V7 from Ohm's Law So V7=E/R7
Hi bibo_dvd. http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/5725/red5e5etimes5e5e45e5e25.gif

If R6 were equal to 0Ω then you could indeed say V7=E/R7

Ohms Law requires E to be the voltage across R. You can't consider a voltage from just anywhere and divide it by any resistance you choose. E must be the exact voltage across exactly that R. In your circuit, R6 is in the way, meaning that

E = (the voltage across R7) + (the voltage across R6).
 
Last edited by a moderator:
NasOxy is correct.
I think you need to back off to a simpler example and fully understand it first. Then the problem will make sense.
There is a wikipedia page for "voltage divider" you should read and understand. For the simple voltage divider (R1 in series with R2) you calculate the total current I through R1+R2 and then the voltage across R2 is I*R2.
 
Look up "Kirchoff's voltage law"...google it.

For random example, If you have one voltage source of say 100 volts and just one resistor, then and only then does the entire 100 volts goes across that one resistor.

If you have same voltage source and say 2 resistors of equal value, then 50 volts will go across each of them...adding up to 100 volts.

If you have same voltage source and have 2 resistors of different value say, 10 ohms and 20 ohms, then the voltage will divide across the resitors with a ratio.

100 volts X (10/(10+20))...so you will get 33.33 volts across the 10 ohm...and 66.66 across the 20 ohm.

To work the problem above, you simply combine the two 9 ohms in parallel and you get 4.5 ohms.
Then use voltage divider above...

72 X (4.5/(4.5+12) = 19.6 volts across that branch or 4.36 ma using V=IR which agrees with answer above.
Now that you know the 19.6 across that branch, spread the resistors out back to there originial shape...two 9 ohm resistors.

Using ohms law again, you can now check the currents again. The two branches should add up to the 4.36 ma.
19.6/ 9 ohms = 2.18 ma a piece...yes, checks out according to Kirchoffs Current law (also look up in google)
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 35 ·
2
Replies
35
Views
7K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K