Understanding Short Circuit Current Paths in Electrical Circuits

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around understanding short circuit current paths in electrical circuits, specifically in relation to Thevenin's theorem and the implications of short circuits on current flow through resistors.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the implications of a short circuit on current flow, questioning the role of resistors and potential differences in the circuit. There is uncertainty about the definitions and relationships between circuit elements.

Discussion Status

Some participants are seeking clarification on the reasoning presented, while others are attempting to define terms and concepts related to potential difference. There is an ongoing exploration of the relationships between circuit components without a clear consensus.

Contextual Notes

Participants express confusion regarding the definitions of potential difference and the behavior of current in the presence of a short circuit, indicating a need for further exploration of these concepts.

madafo3435
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Homework Statement
I want to explain why when calculating the short-circuit current between the terminals (see the attached figure), no current takes the route through resistor R.
Relevant Equations
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1605395148922.png

My reasoning is as follows: with the short circuit present, a 0 resistance can be considered between the terminals. Then, since the only objective of the short circuit current ##I_{SC}## is to give information about the Thevenin equivalent resistance and the open circuit voltage (the existence of these values is given by thevenin's theorem). The presence of the short circuit is considered for only an instant, so the only current that is measured is the one that arrives due to the resistor ##2R##, that is, at the instant of this presence of the short circuit, the current that flows through circuit element ##R## does not reach the terminals, so we can assume that no current takes the path through circuit element ##R##.

I do not know if this is correct, and if it is not, could someone enlighten me with this inconvenience?
 
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I don't follow your explanation, but if those two terminals at the bottom are connected then the two junctions connecting to R and the positive pole of the battery are all connected by resistanceless wires and so are t the same potential and there us no p.d. to drive current through R.
 
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epenguin said:
I don't follow your explanation, but if those two terminals at the bottom are connected then the two junctions connecting to R and the positive pole of the battery are all connected by resistanceless wires and so are t the same potential and there us no p.d. to drive current through R.
Your reasoning confuses me. It is not clear to me which elements have the same potential, and I do not see why this leads to no current flowing through R. I also assume that p.d. refers to partial discharge, but I am not related to that concept.
 
P.d. = potential difference.
Everything connected by a resistanceless wire is at the same potential.
 
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epenguin said:
P.d. = potential difference.
Everything connected by a resistanceless wire is at the same potential.
ohh I get it, I need to think a lot more about it since it is not obvious to me. thanks for your help
 

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