Very basic circuit question about a Wheatstone Bridge

[User1265]

Homework Statement

My Question is how would find the current of the ammeter

Image inserted in solution
The answer says "balanced wheatstone bridge, I = 0" I do not quite understand.

Relevant Equations

V=IR

I tried to solve by making 4 ohm and 8 ohm, which I believe are parallel as one effective resistance, and making 6 and 12 ohms which I believe are parallel as one effective resistance, and diving the total of the two effective resistance by the total voltage, but by doing so, I can only find the total current in the circuit, whereas I need the current in the branch containing the ammeter.

However the answer noted it was a 'balanced wheatstone bridge'. What does this mean? and what are the implications of this upon solving to find the current in the Ammeter?

 

[kuruman]

However the answer noted it was a 'balanced wheatstone bridge'. What does this mean? and what are the implications of this upon solving to find the current in the Ammeter?

Look it up here.

 

[BvU]

which I believe are parallel

question your belief: only one of the two ends of both is in common

 

[User1265]

question your belief: only one of the two ends of both is in common

Could you elaborate more on how you identify in this particular case which are in parallel and which are in series and why this is in this case?

 

[kuruman]

Two resistors are in series if all the current that goes through one resistor has to go through the other before encountering a node where more than two circuit elements are connected.

Two resistors are in series if both their ends are at the same electric potential, i.e. the voltage across them is the same.

Note that the ammeter in the diagram is assumed to be ideal, i.e. it has zero resistance, the voltage across it is zero, and doesn't count as a circuit element. Also note that if two resistors are not in series, this does not necessarily mean that they must be in parallel. They can be neither in series nor in parallel.

 

[User1265]

ammeter in the diagram is assumed to be ideal, i.e. it has zero resistance, the voltage across it is zero, and doesn't count as a circuit element.

Does this mean no current would be flowing through that part?

 

[kuruman]

No. The straight wires connecting the resistors are also considered to have zero resistance, yet current flows them. On the contrary, ammeters measure all the current in whatever part of the circuit they are connected.

 

[Tom.G]

A bit of a typo, methinks.

Two resistors are in series?? parallel ?? if both their ends are at the same electric potential, i.e. the voltage across them is the same.

https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/resistor/res_4.html

https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/resistor/res_3.html