I Not sure what I can make into equivalent resistors

AI Thread Summary
Combining two resistors in parallel to create an equivalent resistor is possible only if they are directly connected at both ends. If a capacitor is placed between the resistors, they cannot be considered in parallel, and thus cannot be combined into a single equivalent resistor. The overall resistance of the circuit will depend on the capacitor's value and the operating frequency, with different behaviors at DC and high frequencies. For DC, the capacitor isolates one resistor, while at high frequencies, it behaves like a short circuit, allowing the resistors to act in parallel. Understanding these connections and frequency effects is crucial for accurate circuit analysis.
egio
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Could I combine the two resistors together in parallel to make an equivalent resistor, and then use that equivalent resistor in series with the capacitor?

It would be great if there was some rule of thumb that I can use to know what I can make into an equivalent resistor/capacitor down the line once I come across different circuit combinations.

Thanks so much!
 
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egio said:
Here is the circuit!

Could I combine the two resistors together in parallel to make an equivalent resistor, and then use that equivalent resistor in series with the capacitor?

It would be great if there was some rule of thumb that I can use to know what I can make into an equivalent resistor/capacitor down the line once I come across different circuit combinations.

Thanks so much!
If I understand your questions correctly, the answer is yes to all of them.
Here is a link about calculating the resistance of a resistors wired in parallel:http://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/resistor/res_4.html
 
.Scott said:
If I understand your questions correctly, the answer is yes to all of them.
Here is a link about calculating the resistance of a resistors wired in parallel:http://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/resistor/res_4.html
Ah, I see. So to confirm, I can make an equivalent resistor even though the capacitor is there?

And thanks for the link!
 
egio said:
So to confirm, I can make an equivalent resistor even though the capacitor is there?
Yes, as long as the resistors are connected to each other directly.
 
.Scott said:
Yes, as long as the resistors are connected to each other directly.
Hmm.. Can you please clarify what you mean by "directly?"
 
In order for the resistors to be in parallel, the resistors need to be connected at both ends to the opposite ends of the other resistor(s).

For example, if I have:
* a 10-ohm resistor tied to nodes A and B;
* another 10-ohm resistor tied to nodes A and B; and
* a capacitor tied across nodes A and C (or node A and B).
then those two 10-ohm resistors are equivalent to a single 5-ohm resistor. The same as this:
* a 5-ohm resistor tied to nodes A and B; and
* a capacitor tied across nodes A and C (or node A and B).

On the other hand, if you have this:
* a 10-ohm resistor tied to nodes A and B;
* a 10-ohm resistor tied to nodes A and C; and
* a capacitor tied across nodes B and C
then these resistors are not in parallel and, unless nodes B and C are connected, are not equivalent to 5-ohm (or any other value) resistor.
 
egio said:
Hmm.. Can you please clarify what you mean by "directly?"
upload_2017-3-17_9-46-33.png
 
.Scott said:
In order for the resistors to be in parallel, the resistors need to be connected at both ends to the opposite ends of the other resistor(s).

For example, if I have:
* a 10-ohm resistor tied to nodes A and B;
* another 10-ohm resistor tied to nodes A and B; and
* a capacitor tied across nodes A and C (or node A and B).
then those two 10-ohm resistors are equivalent to a single 5-ohm resistor. The same as this:
* a 5-ohm resistor tied to nodes A and B; and
* a capacitor tied across nodes A and C (or node A and B).

On the other hand, if you have this:
* a 10-ohm resistor tied to nodes A and B;
* a 10-ohm resistor tied to nodes A and C; and
* a capacitor tied across nodes B and C
then these resistors are not in parallel and, unless nodes B and C are connected, are not equivalent to 5-ohm (or any other value) resistor.
Ah, I see. Thank you for the detailss!
 
davenn said:
Are you saying that that is what resistors that are connected directly look like? Because then looking at my circuit, the resistors are not connected directly, since the capacitor is in between the upper node that they share. Is my intuition correct?
 
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egio said:
Are you saying that that is what resistors that are connected directly look like? Because then looking at my circuit, the resistors are not connected directly, since the capacitor is in between the upper node that they share. Is my intuition correct?
yes, I am saying my pic is what you should have ... anything else is incorrect for what you described in your OP as what you wanted

Could I combine the two resistors together in parallel to make an equivalent resistor, and then use that equivalent resistor in series with the capacitor?

your image shows that the resistors are NOT in parallel so isn't in line with what you wanted
Dave
 
  • #11
davenn said:
yes, I am saying my pic is what you should have ... anything else is incorrect for what you described in your OP as what you wanted

your image shows that the resistors are NOT in parallel so isn't in line with what you wanted

Dave
Oohh I see... If I wanted to find the resistance of the entire circuit, how would I since I can't combine them into an equivalent resistor?
 
  • #12
egio said:
Oohh I see... If I wanted to find the resistance of the entire circuit, how would I since I can't combine them into an equivalent resistor?

way back in post #2, Scott gave you a link to show you how to calculate parallel resistors

http://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/resistor/res_4.html

you can only measure the combined parallel resistance across the ends of the resistors not from the far side of the capacitor
as it will make the resistance look like an open circuit
 
  • #13
egio said:
Oohh I see... If I wanted to find the resistance of the entire circuit, how would I since I can't combine them into an equivalent resistor?
The Equivalent single resistance in the first diagram will depend upon the value of the C and the operating frequency. Taking two extremes: for DC or very low frequencies, the equivalent resistance is the value of the right hand resistor (the C isolates the left hand R completely) and for very high frequencies (where the C behaves like a short circuit), the equivalent resistor is the same as for the two resistors connected in parallel.
For frequencies in between (i.e. one a large range) you need to consider the Impedance of all three circuit elements.
 
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