Solving Circuit Diagrams: 2 Batteries, Resistor & Subtraction

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter majormaaz
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Batteries Current
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

This discussion addresses the configuration of two batteries in a circuit diagram where their negative terminals face each other, with a resistor placed between them. It confirms that the voltage can be resolved by subtracting the smaller battery's voltage from the larger battery's voltage, provided the resistor is accounted for in the circuit. The position of the resistor does not affect the overall voltage calculation in a series circuit.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic circuit theory
  • Knowledge of series circuit configurations
  • Familiarity with voltage and current concepts
  • Basic comprehension of resistors and their role in circuits
NEXT STEPS
  • Study series circuit analysis techniques
  • Learn about voltage division in circuits
  • Explore the impact of resistors on circuit behavior
  • Investigate practical applications of battery configurations in electronics
USEFUL FOR

Electronics students, hobbyists working on circuit design, and engineers involved in circuit analysis and design.

majormaaz
Messages
61
Reaction score
1
Just doing a couple circuit diagrams, and my brain seems to have shorted: If you have two batteries, but they're oriented where their negative terminals are facing each other (+ -) (- +) and there's a resistor in between the two batteries, could I still resolve the two batteries by subtracting the smaller battery from the larger one?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Sure, as long as you don't forget the resistor in the circuit afterwards. The position of a resistor does not matter in a series of circuit elements.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: 1 person

Similar threads

Undergrad An attempt to understand the associated variable conventions in circuits
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Undergrad Can current flow in an open circuit?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Undergrad How a Battery creates a Potential difference in an electrical current
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
6K
High School Where Do Electrons Go When a Battery Loses Charge?
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
8K
Undergrad How is Potential Difference Created across a Resistor?
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
4K
Undergrad Physics domain analysis of Voltage drop in series resistor
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Graduate Electromotive Force, Batteries, Resistors, and Potential Differences
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
3K
High School How is surface charge accumulated?
  • · Replies 36 ·
2
Replies
36
Views
7K
High School Troubleshooting Battery Internal Resistance Measurements
  • · Replies 105 ·
4
Replies
105
Views
13K
Undergrad Charge accumulation for in series batteries
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K