Thevenin's & Kirchhoff's law, in a circuit

  • Thread starter Thread starter ahmed markhoos
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Circuit Law
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the voltage across a 5-ohm resistor in a circuit using Thevenin's theorem and Kirchhoff's laws. Participants explore the discrepancies in their calculations and observations from circuit simulations.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant reports obtaining 5 V using Thevenin's theorem and 3.33 V using Kirchhoff's laws for the voltage across the 5-ohm resistor.
  • Another participant notes the difference in voltmeter readings when connected in series versus parallel with the resistor, suggesting an observation rather than a question.
  • A request is made for the participant to show their work solving the KCL equation for the node where R1, R2, and R3 connect.
  • A participant explains that the Thevenin voltage is 5 V, but the voltage across R3 is 3.33 V, attributing the difference to the nature of voltmeter connections.
  • Another participant provides a KCL analysis and calculations that yield 3.33 V across R3, while also discussing the Thevenin voltage.
  • One participant suggests using the substitution theorem as a simpler method to arrive at the same voltage across the resistor.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the voltage readings obtained through various methods, with no consensus reached on the correct interpretation of the results or the application of Thevenin's theorem and Kirchhoff's laws.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved assumptions regarding the circuit configuration and the definitions of Thevenin voltage and open-circuit voltage. The discussion reflects varying levels of understanding of the concepts involved.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in circuit analysis, particularly those studying Thevenin's theorem and Kirchhoff's laws, may find the discussion relevant.

ahmed markhoos
Messages
49
Reaction score
2
I have a circuit, I want to know how much voltage on the 5 ohm's resistor at the far right.

LrYrG0y.png


using the two methods of Thevenin's & Kirchhoff's:

Thevenin's: I get 5 V
Kirchhoff's : I get 3.33 V

I don't know what is exactly wrong. but I've NOTICED thing!, when I simulate it in multisim, and connect the voltmeter in series with the far right 5 ohm's, I get 5V. and when I connect it in parallel with the 5 ohm's I get 3.33 V.

I'll try to put my calculations later on.
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
ahmed markhoos said:
I have a circuit, I want to know how much voltage on the 5 ohm's resistor at the far right.

LrYrG0y.png


using the two methods of Thevenin's & Kirchhoff's:

Thevenin's: I get 5 V
Kirchhoff's : I get 3.33 V

I don't know what is exactly wrong. but I've NOTICED thing!, when I simulate it in multisim, and connect the voltmeter in series with the far right 5 ohm's, I get 5V. and when I connect it in parallel with the 5 ohm's I get 3.33 V.

I'll try to put my calculations later on.

Voltmeters go in parallel and current meters go in series.
 
berkeman said:
Voltmeters go in parallel and current meters go in series.

I know that, this isn't my question. I'm just surprisingly saying that even that I did it wrong the number is appearing when I do that think. take it as an observation >*<
 
Can you show your work solving the KCL equation for the top node where R1, R2 and R3 connect?
 
The Thevenin voltage is 5 V but the voltage across the resistor R3 is 3.33 V. The voltmeter connected parallel with R3 measures that voltage. If you connect the voltmeter in series with R3, the voltmeter measures the open-circuit voltage: no current flows through R3, as the resistance of the voltmeter is very high, it can be considered infinity. So the voltmeter reading is equal to the Thevenin voltage.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: ahmed markhoos and berkeman
berkeman said:
Can you show your work solving the KCL equation for the top node where R1, R2 and R3 connect?

by Kirchhoff's: using the upper junction, I1 enter from R1, I2 out to R2, I3 out to R3.

I1=I2+I3

right loop: 5*I3-5-5*I2 =0, SO: I3=1+I2
left loop: 5*I1+5*I2+5-5=0, SO: I1=-I2

by substitution: -I2=I2+1+I2 , THEN: I2=-1/3 AND I3=2/3

BY OHM'S LAW: V=RI= (5)(2/3) = 3.33 V
-----------------

by Thevenin's: first we remove R3, give us a circuit with two opposite batteries, so I=0

taking the loop that contain Vth (right one): 0*5 +5 +Vth = 0

Vth=-5.

---------------
ehild said:
The Thevenin voltage is 5 V but the voltage across the resistor R3 is 3.33 V. The voltmeter connected parallel with R3 measures that voltage. If you connect the voltmeter in series with R3, the voltmeter measures the open-circuit voltage: no current flows through R3, as the resistance of the voltmeter is very high, it can be considered infinity. So the voltmeter reading is equal to the Thevenin voltage.

thank you ehild, you are right. the problem is that the doctor didn't explain thevenin's correctly and didn't mention what Vth exactly is. He just gave us the method.thank you very much.
 
The most simple way for solving the task is applying the substitution theorem.
We get the same circuit two times: 5*2.5/(2.5+5) + 5*2.5/(2.5+5)=3.333V.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Replies
12
Views
2K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
4K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
Replies
12
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
4K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
6K