Can You Solve This Infinite Grid of Resistors Problem?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around a famous physics puzzle involving an infinite grid of resistors and the calculation of resistance between two points. The key insight is that total resistance can be determined by analyzing parallel paths where no current flows between them, achieved when neighboring paths maintain the same potential. The original poster reflects on their past attempts to solve a similar problem involving the resistivity of ground with metal rods. Although they express uncertainty about solving the current puzzle, they mention a resource for further exploration. The conversation highlights the complexity of calculating resistance in an infinite grid configuration.
excrucio
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Could you solve this?
problem.JPG
 
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That's a famous physics "puzzle". Can you solve it?
 
I believe back in college I had to calculate the continuous case of this, e.g. you stick two metal rods into the ground a meter apart. What is the resistance between the rods given the resistivity of the ground.
(EDIT: Or maybe I just imagine having solved it. I definitely pondered it in the past)

The key insight in this problem is that you calculate the total resistance of it by calculating resistance along paths that are all electrically parallel with each other. More importantly, to be able to do so, you choose the paths so that there is no current flowing between those paths. That scenario happens when two neighboring paths have the same potential along their paths.

Sorry, that's all I recall :)
 
NO, I cannot solve it :(
 
Just FYI, there's a neat web page on the matter that calculates it.
 
Link?
 

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