What is the Equivalent Resistance of this Messy Circuit?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the equivalent resistance of a complex circuit involving multiple resistors arranged in various configurations. The circuit includes resistors R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 with specified values, and participants are attempting to understand the relationships between these resistors and how to simplify the circuit to find the equivalent resistance.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the configuration of resistors, questioning whether certain groups are in series or parallel. There are attempts to calculate equivalent resistances for combinations like R23 and R45, and some express confusion about how to deduce current pathways in the circuit. Others mention the need for wye-delta conversions and explore different circuit layouts to clarify their understanding.

Discussion Status

Some participants have made progress in understanding the circuit configurations and have shared insights on how to approach similar problems. There is ongoing exploration of different interpretations of the circuit layout, and while some guidance has been offered, there is no explicit consensus on the best method to solve the problem.

Contextual Notes

Participants express concerns about the complexity of circuits with diagonal connections and the potential for confusion during assessments. There are references to trial and error methods used to arrive at conclusions, indicating a lack of confidence in the understanding of the material.

elcotufa
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Homework Statement

Edit Circuit looks messed up, if you can quote me you can see the text of the circuit
This is how the circuit looks*--------------------*
| / \
| R2 R3
R1 / \
| *------- *--------a
| \ /
| R4 R5
| \ /
*-------------------*-------------b

R1=4ohms
R2=20ohms
R3=30ohms
R4=60ohms
R5=40ohms

The answer is supposed to be Rab=9.6 ohms, but I have tried everything and cannot get anything close

Any input is greatly appreciated
 
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elcotufa said:

Homework Statement




Edit Circuit looks messed up, if you can quote me you can see the text of the circuit
This is how the circuit looks

Code: 
*-----------------------*
|                     /  \
|                    R2   R3
R1                 /      \
|                 *------- *--------a
|                  \      /
|                  R4    R5
|                   \  /
*---------------------*-------------b
R1=4ohms
R2=20ohms
R3=30ohms
R4=60ohms
R5=40ohms

The answer is supposed to be Rab=9.6 ohms, but I have tried everything and cannot get anything close

Any input is greatly appreciated

What have you tried?

What are the equivalent resistances for R23 and R45?
 
R23 and R45 are both in parallel right?

R23= (20)(30)/(50) R45(60*40)/100

I tried them in series too, what I want to understand is how to deduce the pathways for the current in circuits like this one. Diagonals seem to mess me up

Edit do I have to do a wye delta conversion?
 
nm finally got itThe R23 is in parallel and then in series with the R1

R45 are in parallel and also in parallel with R123

Problem is it was by trial and error, if I get another circuit with diagonals I would probably miss it in a test
 
if I had a circuit like this
Code: 
               a------------*
                          /   \
                         R2    R3
                        /       \
                        *-------*
                        \      /
                         R4   R5
                           \  /
                  b----------*

Would R23 be in parallel, R45 be in parallel, and R23 in parallel with R45 ? or would R23 be in series with R45?
 
elcotufa said:
nm finally got it


The R23 is in parallel and then in series with the R1

R45 are in parallel and also in parallel with R123

Problem is it was by trial and error, if I get another circuit with diagonals I would probably miss it in a test

No need for it to be trial and error. The more you simplify it the easier it becomes. Just calculate equivalent resistances and work toward the answer of what's asked. I think you will be able to do it now even on a test. That's the beauty of homework.
 
What is the approach for that other problem?


And also for this one

Sorry, but I really want to master these diagonal circuits :)
Code: 
               |------------*
               |          /   \
               |         R2    R3
               |        /       \
               |       *--a   b-*
               |        \       /
               |        R4    R5
               |         \   /
               |----------*

Approach
R23 in series R25 in series and R45 in series are the 3 routes from a to b

I don't know how I would combine them together

INput greatly appreciated
 
elcotufa said:
What is the approach for that other problem?And also for this one

Sorry, but I really want to master these diagonal circuits :)
Code: 
               |------------*
               |          /   \
               |         R2    R3
               |        /       \
               |       *--a   b-*
               |        \       /
               |        R4    R5
               |         \   /
               |----------*

Approach
R23 in series R25 in series and R45 in series are the 3 routes from a to b

I don't know how I would combine them together

INput greatly appreciated

This one is different. The short from R2 R3 to R4 R5 could as easily be drawn down the middle which reveals it to be simply R2 R4 in parallel and then in series with R3 R5 in parallel. Then calculation is simple.
 
Thanks a lot man, still not so obvious to me
 
  • #10
LowlyPion said:
This one is different. The short from R2 R3 to R4 R5 could as easily be drawn down the middle which reveals it to be simply R2 R4 in parallel and then in series with R3 R5 in parallel. Then calculation is simple.

For this one the TA said that R2 R4 are in series and R3 R5 are in series, and R24 in parallel with R35She explained it as R2 R4 having the same current, same as R3 R5 and drew it like this
Code: 
_________________
|        |       |
R2       |       R3
|___a    |       |
|        |    b__|  
|        |       |
R4       |       R5
|________|_______|
It made more sense to me this way, but the book doesn't give a right answer for the different values of resistors

Input appreciated
 
  • #11
elcotufa said:
For this one the TA said that R2 R4 are in series and R3 R5 are in series, and R24 in parallel with R35


She explained it as R2 R4 having the same current, same as R3 R5 and drew it like this
Code: 
_________________
|        |       |
R2       |       R3
|___a    |       |
|        |    b__|  
|        |       |
R4       |       R5
|________|_______|
It made more sense to me this way, but the book doesn't give a right answer for the different values of resistors

Input appreciated

That was how I suggested you draw it before. In that configuration, the current flowing from a to b will only be equal in R2 and R4 if their resistances are equal. For the topology you've drawn you need to calculate R2||R4 and then add to R3||R5.

Using the original values in the earlier problem,
R2=20, R4=60, R3=30, R5=40

R2||R4 looks like 15 and R3||R5 looks like 17.14 with the total equivalent as 32.14.
 
  • #12
Ahhh cool
Now I get it

TA probably thought all resistances were equal and confused me more
 

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