What is the Voltage Output in a Complex Network Using KCL and Voltage Dividers?

  • Thread starter Thread starter STEMucator
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Network
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Start your own thread to ask a follow-up.
5 replies · 2K views
Homework Helper
Messages
2,076
Reaction score
140
I was able to do most of the exercises, but this one gave me some trouble. I want to find ##V_o##.

Screen Shot 2014-09-20 at 1.48.52 PM.png


My gut is telling me to use KCL, and applying it to the top left node above the 6k resistor yields:

##\frac{V_o}{2000} + 2 \times 10^{-3} - \frac{V_s}{6000} - \frac{V_s}{3000} = 0##

I am now somewhat unsure how to proceed. I know the potential across the branches is ##V_s##.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Write another equation for the branch with the two resistors and Vo. The equation should relate Vo to the voltage Vs (the voltage of the node). Then you'll have something to replace Vo in your node equation, leaving you with just one unknown.
 
gneill said:
Write another equation for the branch with the two resistors and Vo. The equation should relate Vo to the voltage Vs (the voltage of the node). Then you'll have something to replace Vo in your node equation, leaving you with just one unknown.

I suspected I was trying to relate ##V_s## and ##V_o##, but I can't see it for some reason. Probably due to hunger. Applying KVL didn't seem to give me anything useful, so I'm still a bit unsure what to do.
 
The only equation I can see is: ##V_s = V_o + V_x## where ##V_x## is the voltage across the 1k.
 
The potential at the top node is ##V_s##. That branch with ##V_o## looks like a voltage divider to me... ;)
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: STEMucator
gneill said:
The potential at the top node is ##V_s##. That branch with ##V_o## looks like a voltage divider to me... ;)

I can't believe I forgot entirely about voltage dividers.

So I guess I could just say that ##V_o = [\frac{2k}{1k + 2k}]V_s = \frac{2}{3} V_s##

Subbing this into the KCL equation gives ##V_s = 12 V##, which then subbing back gives ##V_o = 8 V##.

I'm going to go eat now, thank you.