Battery connected to an infinite number of loads in parallel

AI Thread Summary
A battery with internal resistance and voltage is connected to an infinite number of identical lightbulbs in parallel. The current through the first lightbulb can be calculated using the total current divided by the number of bulbs, leading to the factor of 1/N. The confusion arises from the assumption that current distribution is not even, but in this case, it is because all branches are identical. The correct approach confirms that the current splits evenly among the parallel loads. Understanding this principle clarifies the solution to the problem.
032050
Messages
9
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Okay, so there is a battery with in internal resistance r and voltage of (V). The battery is hooked up to an infinite number (N) of lightbulbs each with resistance R in parallel. The question asks me to find the current going through the first lightbulb...My problem is when I am doing the question I'm out by a factor of N being the number of lights attached.


Homework Equations


V=IR
1/Rparallel=[1/R1+1/R2...]^-1
Rt=Rparallel+r

The Attempt at a Solution


Okay so i know that i can condense all the parallel loads to
Rparallel=(R/N)
then current through the first bulb would be I=V/(r+R/N)
except the solution has the I=1/N[V/(r+R/N)]

I have no idea where that 1/N factor came from, I've tried everything, almost i guess...
Thanks a lot in advance
 
Physics news on Phys.org
032050 said:
Okay so i know that i can condense all the parallel loads to
Rparallel=(R/N)
OK.
then current through the first bulb would be I=V/(r+R/N)
That's the total current through all the bulbs.
 
If I take 1/N of the total current and say that that is going through the first bulb is that not assuming that the current is evenly distributed to all the loads. whenever I have done questions where the current splits into two directions it hasn't been an even distribution of the current?
 
032050 said:
If I take 1/N of the total current and say that that is going through the first bulb is that not assuming that the current is evenly distributed to all the loads.
Yes.
whenever I have done questions where the current splits into two directions it hasn't been an even distribution of the current?
If each branch is identical--as is the case here--why shouldn't the current split evenly?
 
Oh I never thought of that okay thanks a lot!
 
Kindly see the attached pdf. My attempt to solve it, is in it. I'm wondering if my solution is right. My idea is this: At any point of time, the ball may be assumed to be at an incline which is at an angle of θ(kindly see both the pics in the pdf file). The value of θ will continuously change and so will the value of friction. I'm not able to figure out, why my solution is wrong, if it is wrong .
Thread 'Voltmeter readings for this circuit with switches'
TL;DR Summary: I would like to know the voltmeter readings on the two resistors separately in the picture in the following cases , When one of the keys is closed When both of them are opened (Knowing that the battery has negligible internal resistance) My thoughts for the first case , one of them must be 12 volt while the other is 0 The second case we'll I think both voltmeter readings should be 12 volt since they are both parallel to the battery and they involve the key within what the...
Thread 'Trying to understand the logic behind adding vectors with an angle between them'
My initial calculation was to subtract V1 from V2 to show that from the perspective of the second aircraft the first one is -300km/h. So i checked with ChatGPT and it said I cant just subtract them because I have an angle between them. So I dont understand the reasoning of it. Like why should a velocity be dependent on an angle? I was thinking about how it would look like if the planes where parallel to each other, and then how it look like if one is turning away and I dont see it. Since...
Back
Top