Desperately needing help on a simple Kirchoff problem

  • Thread starter Thread starter Cetullah
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Kirchoff
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a circuit problem involving Kirchhoff's laws, specifically focusing on the application of Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL) and Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL). Participants are attempting to analyze a circuit with multiple batteries and resistors, aiming to determine the currents flowing through the circuit.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate the currents driven by the batteries but expresses uncertainty about their accuracy. Some participants suggest using Kirchhoff's laws to set up equations based on the circuit loops and junctions. Others question the correctness of the initial current values and the setup of the equations.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging in the problem, with some offering guidance on the need for proper equation setup and current direction considerations. There is a recognition of the need for three equations to solve for the three unknown currents, and some participants are exploring the implications of sign conventions in their equations.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of potential sign issues in the loop equations, and participants are encouraged to clarify the direction of currents and the associated voltage drops across resistors. The original poster also notes a lack of clarity from previous instruction, which may affect their understanding of the problem.

Cetullah
Messages
31
Reaction score
0
Hello people, this time I request your help for a fairly easy question, but a crucial one for me. To be honest I wasn't full awake when my teacher in university was talking on this topic( :( ), so I don't know how to solve it.

Homework Statement



Given on attachment. (Superior paint skills detected)

Homework Equations



Eh, not sure if I really need to say that, but the currents that moves in and moves out from a junction must be equal.

The Attempt at a Solution



I think I ve found the currents which batteries drive on the circuit. 50 V battery drives in 4.5 A, while 40V drives in 4.3 A.
 

Attachments

  • kirchoff.png
    kirchoff.png
    7.3 KB · Views: 487
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Cetullah said:
Hello people, this time I request your help for a fairly easy question, but a crucial one for me. To be honest I wasn't full awake when my teacher in university was talking on this topic( :( ), so I don't know how to solve it.

Homework Statement



Given on attachment. (Superior paint skills detected)

Homework Equations



Eh, not sure if I really need to say that, but the currents that moves in and moves out from a junction must be equal.

The Attempt at a Solution



I think I ve found the currents which batteries drive on the circuit. 50 V battery drives in 4.5 A, while 40V drives in 4.3 A.

There are several possible approaches to solving this circuit employing Kichhoff's laws (KVL and/or KCL).

The current values you've found don't look right. Can you show your work?
 
Ah sorry, I have tried to solve the problem again, and found different values. Here is my path:

Currents on junction that is between the two 10Ω's:(1)
i1+i2=i3

Currents on left loop: (2)

50-10i1-20i3+5i1=0

50-5i1-20i3=0

10-i1-4i3=0

Carrying the equation (1) into 2:

10 - (i2+i3) - 4i3=0

10-i2-i3-4i3=0

10-i2-5i3=0

Currents on right loop:(3)

40+20i3-10i2=0

4+2i3-i2=0

Solving the equations:

10-i2-5i3=0

-4 + i2 - 2i3=0

6-7i3=0

i3=6/7=0.85

i2=5.7

i1=6.55

Hoping if these are correct :)
 
1.There are 3 unknown current flowing in the circuit so you need 3 equations. There are 3 loops, left, right and the outer.

2. Mark you resistor voltage drop sign, positive or negative at its terminal. The point of current entering is positive and leaving negative.
 
You have some sign issues in the loop equations (1) and (3). Your first equation, $$i_1 + i_2 = i_3$$ defines the current directions at the top center node, and you need to respect the those implied directions when you write the KVL loop equations.

Here's your diagram with the implied current directions indicated:

attachment.php?attachmentid=49550&stc=1&d=1344108434.gif


It is often helpful to mark in the implied potential rises/drops on the individual resistors before setting out to write the KVL equations :wink:
 

Attachments

  • Fig1.gif
    Fig1.gif
    2 KB · Views: 536

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
5K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
Replies
15
Views
10K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
11
Views
2K
Replies
10
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K