How to calculate potential in an electric circuit with multiple batteries?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

Calculating the potential in an electric circuit with multiple batteries involves applying Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL) or Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL). The voltage between points A and B is determined by the left battery, which is directly connected to these points. In non-ideal scenarios, internal resistances of the batteries must be considered, and circuit equations should be solved accordingly. Understanding these laws is crucial for accurate potential calculations in complex circuits.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL)
  • Familiarity with Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL)
  • Basic knowledge of electric circuits and components
  • Concept of internal resistance in batteries
NEXT STEPS
  • Study Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL) in detail
  • Learn about Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL) applications
  • Explore the impact of internal resistance in battery circuits
  • Practice circuit analysis using simulation tools like LTspice
USEFUL FOR

Electrical engineers, physics students, and anyone involved in circuit design and analysis will benefit from this discussion on calculating potential in circuits with multiple batteries.

Apteronotus
Messages
201
Reaction score
0
How does one calculate the potential in an electric circuit when there are more than 1 batteries present?

For example, in the circuit attached, how would we calculate the potential at A and B?
Is it a simple addition?

Thanks,
 

Attachments

  • Circuit2.JPG
    Circuit2.JPG
    7.6 KB · Views: 364
Physics news on Phys.org
Apteronotus said:
How does one calculate the potential in an electric circuit when there are more than 1 batteries present?

For example, in the circuit attached, how would we calculate the potential at A and B?
Is it a simple addition?

Thanks,

Because the left battery is directly connected to A and B, that defines the voltage between A and B.

To the extent that the batteries are not ideal, you would show the internal resistances explicitly, and then solve the equations for the circuit. You can either use KVL or KCL equations. Are you familiar with them?
 
Berkeman,
Thank you for your explanation. I now understand the circuit. I guess the trick is to look at the outer circuit (not including the passive components) and apply KVL to it.

Thank you again,

Apteronotus
 
Thread 'Colors in a plasma globe'

Thread 'Colors in a plasma globe'

I have a common plasma globe with blue streamers and orange pads at both ends. The orange light is emitted by neon and the blue light is presumably emitted by argon and xenon. Why are the streamers blue while the pads at both ends are orange? A plasma globe's electric field is strong near the central electrode, decreasing with distance, so I would not expect the orange color at both ends.
View full post »

Similar threads

Undergrad An attempt to understand the associated variable conventions in circuits
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Undergrad How is Potential Difference Created across a Resistor?
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
4K
Undergrad How a Battery creates a Potential difference in an electrical current
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
5K
Undergrad Is the Poynting Vector Field the Only Factor in Energy Flow in Circuits?
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
3K
Electrical potential energy questions for a battery circuit
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Undergrad Electric potential and potential difference
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Undergrad Physics domain analysis of Voltage drop in series resistor
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Undergrad Potential difference between a battery's terminal and Earth ground
  • · Replies 58 ·
2
Replies
58
Views
5K
Undergrad Can current flow in an open circuit?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Undergrad Is this example incorrect in Agawal's book on electric circuits?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K