Current division in a series-parallel circuit

[Ketchup4684]

Homework Statement

Determine the current through each circuit element

Homework Equations

V = IR (Ohm's Law),

The Attempt at a Solution

I1 is .06A after plugging 6V and 100 ohms into V = IR, but I can't figure out the rest, because I don't know how the current splits. The left path obviously has less resistance, so more current will flow through it, but I don't know how to calculate how the .06A will split because of that. Since that 50 ohm wire connects the 2 paths i don't know how it affects the total resistances of each.

 

[BvU]

Hello Ketchup,

It's a little more complicated than you make it out: 6V/100$\Omega$ isn't right, because that would mean 6 V over 100$\Omega$ and zero V over the rest of the circuit -- so zero current $\Rightarrow$ contradiction !

You know about Kirchoffs laws ? This exercise assumes you do -- or else that you discover one of them !

 

[scottdave]

First of all, the 6 volts is over the whole circuit, not just 100 ohms. Second, you should take a look at the Bridge Circuit description in this article- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_circuit
Also, you can benefit from doing Delta-Y transform. See this article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y-Δ_transform