What is the emf of the ideal battery in this circuit?

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The emf (electromotive force) of the ideal battery in the given circuit is calculated to be 48.3 V. The analysis involves applying Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL) and the loop rule to determine the potentials across various resistors. The current through resistor R6 is 1.40 A, and the resistances are R1 = R2 = R3 = 2.00 Ω, R4 = 16.0 Ω, R5 = 8.00 Ω, and R6 = 4.00 Ω. The calculations confirm that the resistors R2 and R4 are not in series, and the correct application of the loop rule yields the final emf value.

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Homework Statement



What is the emf ##(\epsilon)## of the ideal battery in the following figure?

Homework Equations



##i_6 = 1.40 A##
##R_1 = R_2 = R_3 = 2.00 \Omega##
##R_4 = 16.0 \Omega##
##R_5 = 8.00 \Omega##
##R_6 = 4.00 \Omega##

The Attempt at a Solution



We can find the potential right away:

##V_6 = i_6R_6 = (1.40 A)(4.00 \Omega) = 5.6 V##

Note that ##i_5 = i_6## since ##R_5## and ##R_6## are in series, so we can find the other potential:

##V_5 = i_5R_5 = (1.40 A)(8.00 \Omega) = 11.2 V##

Now we note ##V_4 = V_5 + V_6 = 5.6 V + 11.2 V = 16.8 V## since the resistors are in parallel. Now ##i_4## can be found:

##i_4 = \frac{V_4}{R_4} = \frac{16.8 V}{16.0 \Omega} = 1.05 A##

By KCL once again, we have ##i_2 = i_4 + i_5 = 1.05 A + 1.40A = 2.45 A##. So that:

##V_2 = i_2R_2 = (2.45 A)(2.00 \Omega) = 4.90 V##

Now here is where I have a question. Would it be the case that ##R_2## and ##R_4## are in series? Then I would have ##R_3## in parallel and:

##V_3 = V_2 + V_4 = 4.90 V + 16.8 V = 21.7 V##

So that ##i_3 = \frac{V_3}{R_3} = \frac{21.7 V}{2.00 \Omega} = 10.85 A = 10.9 A##.

Appyling KCL again yields ##i_1 = i_2 + i_3 = 2.45 A + 10.85 A = 13.3 A##.

So we get ##V_1 = i_1 R_1 = (13.3 A)(2.00 \Omega) = 26.6 V##.

Appling the loop rule to the leftmost loop, we obtain:

##\epsilon - V_1 - V_3 = 0 \Rightarrow \epsilon = V_1 + V_3 = 26.6 V + 21.7 V = 48.3 V##.

Hence the emf is ##48.3 V##.
 

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Zondrina said:

Homework Statement



What is the emf ##(\epsilon)## of the ideal battery in the following figure?

Homework Equations



##i_6 = 1.40 A##
##R_1 = R_2 = R_3 = 2.00 \Omega##
##R_4 = 16.0 \Omega##
##R_5 = 8.00 \Omega##
##R_6 = 4.00 \Omega##

The Attempt at a Solution



We can find the potential right away:

##V_6 = i_6R_6 = (1.40 A)(4.00 \Omega) = 5.6 V##

Note that ##i_5 = i_6## since ##R_5## and ##R_6## are in series, so we can find the other potential:

##V_5 = i_5R_5 = (1.40 A)(8.00 \Omega) = 11.2 V##

Now we note ##V_4 = V_5 + V_6 = 5.6 V + 11.2 V = 16.8 V## since the resistors are in parallel. Now ##i_4## can be found:

##i_4 = \frac{V_4}{R_4} = \frac{16.8 V}{16.0 \Omega} = 1.05 A##

By KCL once again, we have ##i_2 = i_4 + i_5 = 1.05 A + 1.40A = 2.45 A##. So that:

##V_2 = i_2R_2 = (2.45 A)(2.00 \Omega) = 4.90 V##

Now here is where I have a question. Would it be the case that ##R_2## and ##R_4## are in series?...
No. They're not in series, but applying the loop rule will give you ##\ V_3 = V_2 + V_4 \ .##


...Then I would have ##R_3## in parallel and:

##V_3 = V_2 + V_4 = 4.90 V + 16.8 V = 21.7 V##

So that ##i_3 = \frac{V_3}{R_3} = \frac{21.7 V}{2.00 \Omega} = 10.85 A = 10.9 A##.

Appyling KCL again yields ##i_1 = i_2 + i_3 = 2.45 A + 10.85 A = 13.3 A##.

So we get ##V_1 = i_1 R_1 = (13.3 A)(2.00 \Omega) = 26.6 V##.

Appling the loop rule to the leftmost loop, we obtain:

##\epsilon - V_1 - V_3 = 0 \Rightarrow \epsilon = V_1 + V_3 = 26.6 V + 21.7 V = 48.3 V##.

Hence the emf is ##48.3 V##.

Other than that it looks good.
 
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