Engineering Use Circuit reduction, voltage and current divider to find i

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around the confusion regarding the equivalent resistance calculation in a circuit involving resistors of 18k, 9k, and 6k ohms. One participant questions why the solution sheet combines the 18k and 9k resistors in parallel instead of the 18k and 6k. Clarifications reveal that the 18k resistor is not in parallel with the 6k resistor, and the correct approach involves calculating the equivalent resistance of the 18k and 9k resistors first. Participants emphasize the importance of understanding series and parallel configurations to correctly analyze the circuit. The conversation highlights the need for clear diagrams and proper posting formats in technical discussions.
Neon32
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< Mentor Note -- thread moved to HH from the technical physics forums, so no HH Template is shown >[/color]

in the solution sheet, He took the 18 ohms parallel with the 9 ohms and not the 6 ohms. I don't understand why he took this approach. I was going to take 18 ohms parallel with the 6 ohms and find their equivalent resistance then I'll take the result in series with the 9 ohms and find the total resistance of the whole circuit.

https://imgur.com/a/b9UPe
 
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Neon32 said:
in the solution sheet, He took the 18 ohms parallel with the 9 ohms and not the 6 ohms. I don't understand why he took this approach. I was going to take 18 ohms parallel with the 6 ohms and find their equivalent resistance then I'll take the result in series with the 9 ohms and find the total resistance of the whole circuit.
This looks like homework
more background on the problem would be helpful ... diagrams etc
 
davenn said:
This looks like homework
more background on the problem would be helpful ... diagrams etc
Yes I'm uploading it. give me one minute
 
Neon32 said:
Yes I'm uploading it. give me one minute

OK and you should be posting in the homework section and use the correct template
 
davenn said:
OK and you should be posting in the homework section and use the correct template
it isn't a homework though.
 
it's much preferable to post images in the thread
so they can be referred to easily :smile:

UkKWncb.jpg
 

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Neon32 said:
He took the 18 ohms parallel with the 9 ohms and not the 6 ohms.
I don't see those on the diagram
 
davenn said:
I don't see those on the diagram

if you take a close look, you would see he took 18 parallel with 9 ohms and found their equivalent resistance.
 
Neon32 said:
if you take a close look, you would see he took 18 parallel with 9 ohms and found their equivalent resistance.

I assume you are referring to the 3rd diagram ?

also' you are misreading

18k = 18,000 Ohms not 18 Ohms
and
9k = 9,000 Ohms not 9 Ohms

OK now that we have that sorted out :smile:

Neon32 said:
and found their equivalent resistance.

yes that's correct and the resulting value will be in series with the 6k Ohms resistor

Neon32 said:
in the solution sheet, He took the 18 ohms parallel with the 9 ohms and not the 6 ohms. I don't understand why he took this approach. I was going to take 18 ohms parallel with the 6 ohms and find their equivalent resistance then I'll take the result in series with the 9 ohms and find the total resistance of the whole circuit.

but the 18k isn't in parallel with the 6k so your reasoning is incorrect
can you see why it isn't ?Dave
 
  • #10
davenn said:
I assume you are referring to the 3rd diagram ?

also' you are misreading

18k = 18,000 Ohms not 18 Ohms
and
9k = 9,000 Ohms not 9 Ohms

OK now that we have that sorted out :smile:
yes that's correct and the resulting value will be in series with the 6k Ohms resistor
but the 18k isn't in parallel with the 6k so your reasoning is incorrect
can you see why it isn't ?Dave

no i don't know why it isn't.
 
  • #11
Neon32 said:
no i don't know why it isn't.
Are the voltages across 18k, 9k and 6k equal?
 
  • #12
Neon32 said:
no i don't know why it isn't.

do you know the difference between series and parallel ?

which do you think it is and why ?
 

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