Electrical circuits conceptual question

AI Thread Summary
In a series circuit with equal resistances, voltage is evenly distributed across each resistor, while in a series circuit with unequal resistances, voltage drops vary according to resistance values. In parallel circuits with equal resistances, the voltage across each resistor is the same, whereas in parallel circuits with unequal resistances, the voltage remains constant but current divides based on resistance. The relationship between resistance and voltage is defined by Ohm's Law (V=IR), indicating that higher resistance results in lower current for a given voltage. Understanding these principles helps clarify voltage distribution patterns in both series and parallel circuits.
jaejoon89
Messages
187
Reaction score
0
1) What is the pattern for how voltage gets distributed in a series circuit with equal resistances? what about with unequal resistances?
2) What about in a parallel circuit for equal resistances? with unequal resistances?
In either scenario, is there any relation btwn the size of resistance and size of voltage?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
jaejoon89 said:
1) What is the pattern for how voltage gets distributed in a series circuit with equal resistances? what about with unequal resistances?
2) What about in a parallel circuit for equal resistances? with unequal resistances?
In either scenario, is there any relation btwn the size of resistance and size of voltage?

Apparently you are interested in V=I*R, and the sum of the voltages in a loop are 0. Likewise the sum of the currents into a node are equal to the sum of the currents out of a node.

The rest of your question then is determining equivalent resistances, which follow from these 3 principles.
 
Thanks, but I'm still not sure I understand how that'll affect the pattern... does that mean there will be negative voltages so the sum is 0? I imagine with equal resistances, voltage would be equal both for parallel and series, but I'm not sure...
 
jaejoon89 said:
Thanks, but I'm still not sure I understand how that'll affect the pattern... does that mean there will be negative voltages so the sum is 0? I imagine with equal resistances, voltage would be equal both for parallel and series, but I'm not sure...

If you have current you have a voltage source. Your loop is a complete circuit.

For equal resistances then your current being the same in series will result in what ... ?
 
I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
Back
Top