Understanding Mesh Analysis in Basic Circuit Analysis

  • Thread starter Thread starter FrogPad
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Analysis Mesh
Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
2 replies · 3K views
FrogPad
Messages
801
Reaction score
0
This is a question from a review for our midterm coming up soon. I don't understand what I am doing wrong and need some guidance. It would be rather tedious for you (the reader) to view an ASCII circuit, so here is a http://static.flickr.com/46/118451767_63645eb724_b.jpg"of my work:

http://static.flickr.com/46/118451767_63645eb724_b.jpg

Sorry for the link to another page. I couldn't resize it to upload to physicsforums because I don't have software on this computer to do it. I PROMISE it is just my work.

Thanks in advance.

EDIT:I forgot to draw [itex]V_x[/itex] on the circuit diagram! It is supposed to be over [tex]R_{4k\Omega}[/tex] with the labeled [tex]+[/tex] and [tex]-[/tex] right next to the loop 2 label.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
By Ohm's Law, [tex]V_x = (I_2 - I_3) \times 4000[/tex], thus [tex]I_1 = I_2-I_3[/tex], and not [tex]I_3-I_2[/tex] as you have written.
 
Yeah, I get ohms law, and that the voltage for Vx is a combination of I1 and I2 multiplied by the resistance. I don't understand WHY it is:

[tex]I1 = I2-I3[/tex]

and not: [tex]I1= I3-I2[/tex]

oh *shoot*... nevermind I got it now.

The current is going to run from the high potential to the low potential, from positive to negative. If the current is running from positive to negative then the current that runs along side it is a positive I2 and a NEGATIVE I3.

For some reason I was thinking that the current should run from negative to positive.cool. thanks.