Homework Help: Calculating Total Resistance

1. Apr 21, 2015

Angie K.

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

a. What is the net resistance of the circuit connected to the battery in the figure above? Each resistor has the same resistance R. Give your answer as a number times R

b. What is the net resistance if the diagonal resistor between nodes A and B is replaced by a resistance of 1.9 R?
2. Relevant equations
Combining Resistors

Resistors in Series:
R(eq)=R1+R2+R3.....

Resistors in Parallel:
R(eq)=1/R1+1/R2+1/R3......

3. The attempt at a solution
I feel like I did everything right but my answer or 13R/7 is wrong.
I labeled the Resistors: starting from the left side of square, R1, then the top R2, diagonal resistor R3, bottom of square R4 and right side of square R5 and the bottom resistor R6 (maybe I didn't need to go through all that to label them but I feel like it would be easier to understand my attempt of solving this).

R1 and R2 are in series so adding them, I get 2R
Substituting R1 and R2 with a single 2R resistor, that one resistor would be in parallel to R3 so I get 3/2R
Then substituting one resistor for those, that one would be in series to R5 so I got 5R/3
then substituting one resistor for those, that one would be in parallel to R4 (bottom of square) so adding those, I got 6R/7 and adding the last resistor (in series) I got a total of 13R/7

2. Apr 21, 2015

axmls

When you combine 2R in parallel with R on your second line:

$$\frac{1}{R_{eq}} = \frac{1}{2R} + \frac{1}{R} = \frac{3}{2R}$$
Then you have to flip it to get the reciprocal:
$$\frac{1}{R_{eq}} = \frac{3}{2R} \implies R_{eq} = \frac{2R}{3}$$
Don't forget to find that last reciprocal when finding the equivalent of two parallel resistors.

It helps to remember that, for two resistors in parallel (with a little algebra):
$$R_{eq} = \frac{R_1 R_2}{R_1 + R_2}.$$

3. Apr 21, 2015

SammyS

Staff Emeritus
axmis has given you good information.

An additional point of information: If two resistors are in parallel, the equivalent resistance is less that the resistance of either one.

Your analysis of which resistor combinations are in parallel & which are in series is completely correct. That is usually what confuses people in these problems.

4. Apr 21, 2015

Angie K.

I made sure to take the reciprocal of the ones added in parallel but the answer is wrong.

5. Apr 21, 2015

SammyS

Staff Emeritus
You made a mistake combining R4 with the 5R/3 combo.

6. Apr 21, 2015

haruspex

As noted, that should have been (2/3)R, but it looks like that was just a typo in the OP since the next one is right:
But the one after is wrong:
Try that again.

7. Apr 21, 2015

Angie K.

I saw where I went wrong adding the R4 to 5R/3 so 1/(5R/3)+1/R gives me 16/15R and the reciprocal is 15R/16 then adding the last R to that, which is in series, I get 31R/16 which is also not right.

8. Apr 21, 2015

SammyS

Staff Emeritus
Try 1/(5R/3)+1/R again.

It may be easier if you notice that 1/(5R/3) = 3/(5R)

9. Apr 21, 2015

haruspex

Still wrong. What's 1/(5/3)?

10. Apr 21, 2015

Angie K.

I got 13/8 R and it's the right answer. Thank you all for helping me catch my mistakes!

Now for part b, would I just substitute 1.9 and add everything else the same?

11. Apr 21, 2015

Angie K.

I'm getting 46/29 R when I plug in 1.9R for R3 (sorry this was supposed to be R3) I just edited it.

Last edited: Apr 21, 2015
12. Apr 21, 2015

haruspex

Which are you labelling R4? The question says AB in the diagram.

13. Apr 21, 2015

Angie K.

The one that is on a diagonal.

14. Apr 21, 2015

SammyS

Staff Emeritus
Isn't that R3 ? . . . not R4 .

15. Apr 21, 2015

haruspex

16. Apr 21, 2015

haruspex

If Angie is calling the one on the diagonal R4 then that's the one that's to become 1.9. But I'm a bit confused because in the earlier posts Angie used R4 for a different one.

17. Apr 21, 2015

Angie K.

The one on a diagonal is R3 at least that's what I attempted to say earlier.

18. Apr 21, 2015

haruspex

OK, we're on the same wavelength now. So please post your steps.

19. Apr 21, 2015

Angie K.

20. Apr 21, 2015

haruspex

1/1.9?

21. Apr 21, 2015

Angie K.

Oh I didn't take the reciprocal of 1.9