Why Do I Get Different Values for I2 in My Circuit Calculation?

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The discussion revolves around calculating the current values I1, I2, and I3 in a circuit with a 20.0V source and resistors R1, R2, and R3. While I1 and I3 are both found to be 2.7A, the user struggles to determine I2, which the book states is 0.90A, while they believe it should be 1.0A. A participant clarifies that R2 and R3 are in parallel, leading to the equation R2(I1 - I2) = R3I2, which can be solved to find the correct value for I2. This guidance helps the original poster understand the relationship between the currents and resistances in the circuit. The discussion emphasizes the importance of recognizing parallel connections in circuit analysis.
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I'm going to feel kinda dumb once the answer to this question is revealed. But I can't seem to get the proper answer.

The question is: What are the values of I1, I2, and I3 in the circuit?

The ciruit looks like this:
20.0V I=positive terminal
|-------I|-------|
| |
A I1 A I3
| |
| |
/ R1 |
\ 6.0? |
/ |
\ |
| |
|----v^v^v----|
| R2 2.0? A I2
| |
|----v^v^v----|
R3 4.0?

A = Ammeter


Okay. I have no difficulty finding the amount of current at points I1 and I3, as they are equal, and they both work out to 2.7A.

The difficulty lies in finding I2. The answer according to the book is 0.90 A and no matter how hard I try and how many routes i take to get there, I always wind up with the wrong answer. I'm beginning to think perhaps it's that the book's answer is wrong because the most logical answer I got was 1.0 A.

Any help would be nice! Thanks!
 
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wow it really doesn't like that diagram.

I will draw one up, upload it to my website and link to it from there.


Here it is, please excuse the crude size, i did it in AppleWorks paint and I don't have a proper image cropping program here


http://cytokinesis.ath.cx/circuit.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Code:
      20.0V  I=positive terminal
+-------I|-------+
|                |
A  I1            A  I3
|                |
|                |
/                |
\   R1           |
/  6.0?          |
\                |
|                |
+-----v^v^v------+
|    R2  2.0?    A   I2
|                |
+-----v^v^v------+
     R3  4.0?
 
The answer is not 1A. R2 and R3 are connected in parallel, right? So the potential drop on each of them is qual:
V_2 = V_3
The current through R3 is I2, can you see that? As for the current through R2, it is I1 - I2 (because I2 + the current through R2 equals I1). So we get:
R_2(I_1 - I_2) = R_3I_2
Solve for I2 and you're done. :smile:
 
Wow that helps, thanks a lot :smile:
 
The book claims the answer is that all the magnitudes are the same because "the gravitational force on the penguin is the same". I'm having trouble understanding this. I thought the buoyant force was equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. Weight depends on mass which depends on density. Therefore, due to the differing densities the buoyant force will be different in each case? Is this incorrect?

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