Determine the equivalent resistance of the circuit

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the equivalent resistance and current in a parallel circuit containing a 3.0 ohm resistor and an unknown resistor, with a 12-volt source and two ammeters. The equivalent resistance was initially calculated as 2.4 ohms, and the current through ammeter a1 was found to be 4 amperes. The correct formula for finding the equivalent resistance in parallel, 1/Req = 1/R1 + 1/R2, was confirmed to be appropriate for determining the unknown resistor's value. The unknown resistor was calculated to be 12 ohms, although the units were noted to be incorrectly stated. The calculations and methods used were validated by participants in the discussion.
zelda1850
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Homework Statement



a 3.0 ohm resistor an unkown resistor r and two ammeters a1 and a2 are connected with a 12 volt source ammeter a2 reads a current of 5.0 amperes

1) detemine the equivalent resistance of the circuit
2) caculate the current measure of ammeter a 1
3) caculate the resistance of the unknown resistor r


Homework Equations



v= 12 v
a2 = 5.0 a
a1 = ?
r1 = 3.0 ohm
r2 =?

this is a parallel circuit so

do i use v/a to find equivalent resistance?

for current do i use v/r to find a?

and for the resistor is this equation right 1/req = 1/r1 + 1/r2

The Attempt at a Solution



i got 2.4 ohm for the equivalent resistance and 4 a for the current don't know if it right
 
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There's no way to answer this without seeing the circuit.
 
oh here a picture of the diagram for the problem

o938s4.jpg
 
The answers you have so far are correct. What exactly makes you doubt your solution?
 
You are correct so far, so why not go on to find the resistance of the unknown resistor using the formula you have: \frac {1}{R_{eq}} = \frac{1}{R_{1}} + \frac{1}{R_{2}}
 
ok i got 12 r for the resistor using that equation
 
zelda1850 said:
ok i got 12 r for the resistor using that equation

Which is correct, apart from the units; the units of resistance are Ohms, \Omega.
 

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