Where Are the Hidden Loops in My Circuit?

[summersun]

I set this circuit up in my physics lab and measure all the required voltages, currents and resistors. I have been ask to prove that Kirchhoff's Voltage Rule is valid by applying it to all 7 loops. I am only able to find 3 loops and I am unsure as to where the other 4 are. I found 4 other possibilities however, they do not include the power supply and don't work according to Kirchhoff's Rule. Hopefully you can give me some hints as to where the other 4 loops are hiding

 

[tiny-tim]

I set this circuit up in my physics lab and measure all the required voltages, currents and resistors. I have been ask to prove that Kirchhoff's Voltage Rule is valid by applying it to all 7 loops. I am only able to find 3 loops and I am unsure as to where the other 4 are. I found 4 other possibilities however, they do not include the power supply and don't work according to Kirchhoff's Rule. Hopefully you can give me some hints as to where the other 4 loops are hiding

Hi summersun!

There are 3 "basic" loops.

Then there are another 3 loops each containing two "basic loops".

And there is 1 loop (the whole thing, obviously! ) containing all three "basic loops".

Total 7.

You can get 7 Kirchhoff's Rules equations, one for each loop, but only three of the equations will be independent (ie, you can work out any of the other 4 from any 3).

(The number of independent equations for any circuit is the same as the number of "basic loops".)

Try all the loops , and let us know if one isn't working.