How Do You Set Up Equations to Find Currents in a Circuit?

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theuniverse
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Homework Statement


Find currents I1-I6. I'm really looking only for the equations though...


Homework Equations


V=IR


The Attempt at a Solution


I tried to set up equations for the nodes and loops:
Node a:[tex]I_2-I_6-I_3=0[/tex]
Node b: [tex]I_3+I_5-I_1=0[/tex]
Node d: [tex]I_1-I_4-I_2=0[/tex]

Loop 1: [tex]-V_1+I_1R_1+V_2+I_5R_2[/tex]
Loop 2: [tex]-V_2+I_2R_5+I_6R_4[/tex]
Loop 3: [tex]I_3R_6-I_5R_2-I_6R_4[/tex]

I'm pretty sure that the above equations are not correct since I was not sure how to incorporate R3 and I am also a little bit confused about how to relate I1 and I2 and I4.

Thanks for the help!
 

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Your node current equations look fine, except that you seem to have interchanged nodes a and d.

For your loops, they need to be in the form of equations (there should be an "=" in there somewhere). For loop 1, treat R3 as you did the other resistors; there's a voltage drop across R3 due to the loop current i1 flowing through it.
 
Yeah I meant to equal all the loops to 0. How about this:
Loop 1: [tex]-V_1+I_1(R_3+R_1)+V_2+I_5R_2=0[/tex]
And you are right about the nodes a and d.. They are switched in my diagram on paper.. thanks!
 
theuniverse said:
Yeah I meant to equal all the loops to 0. How about this:
Loop 1: [tex]-V_1+I_1(R_3+R_1)+V_2+I_5R_2=0[/tex]
Yup. That looks okay.
And you are right about the nodes a and d.. They are switched in my diagram on paper.. thanks!
You're welcome :smile: