Why Do I Get Different Values for I2 in My Circuit Calculation?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a circuit calculation involving three currents (I1, I2, I3) and resistances (R1, R2, R3). The original poster expresses difficulty in determining the value of I2, despite successfully calculating I1 and I3.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate I2 but arrives at different values than expected, questioning the accuracy of the textbook answer. Other participants discuss the configuration of resistors and the relationships between the currents.

Discussion Status

Some participants have offered insights into the circuit's configuration, particularly regarding the parallel connection of R2 and R3, and how this affects the current calculations. There is an ongoing exploration of the relationships between the currents and resistances.

Contextual Notes

The original poster mentions a potential discrepancy between their calculations and the textbook answer, raising questions about the assumptions made in the problem setup.

cytokinesis
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I'm going to feel kinda dumb once the answer to this question is revealed. But I can't seem to get the proper answer.

The question is: What are the values of I1, I2, and I3 in the circuit?

The ciruit looks like this:
20.0V I=positive terminal
|-------I|-------|
| |
A I1 A I3
| |
| |
/ R1 |
\ 6.0? |
/ |
\ |
| |
|----v^v^v----|
| R2 2.0? A I2
| |
|----v^v^v----|
R3 4.0?

A = Ammeter


Okay. I have no difficulty finding the amount of current at points I1 and I3, as they are equal, and they both work out to 2.7A.

The difficulty lies in finding I2. The answer according to the book is 0.90 A and no matter how hard I try and how many routes i take to get there, I always wind up with the wrong answer. I'm beginning to think perhaps it's that the book's answer is wrong because the most logical answer I got was 1.0 A.

Any help would be nice! Thanks!
 
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wow it really doesn't like that diagram.

I will draw one up, upload it to my website and link to it from there.


Here it is, please excuse the crude size, i did it in AppleWorks paint and I don't have a proper image cropping program here


http://cytokinesis.ath.cx/circuit.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Code:
      20.0V  I=positive terminal
+-------I|-------+
|                |
A  I1            A  I3
|                |
|                |
/                |
\   R1           |
/  6.0?          |
\                |
|                |
+-----v^v^v------+
|    R2  2.0?    A   I2
|                |
+-----v^v^v------+
     R3  4.0?
 
The answer is not 1A. R2 and R3 are connected in parallel, right? So the potential drop on each of them is qual:
V_2 = V_3
The current through R3 is I2, can you see that? As for the current through R2, it is I1 - I2 (because I2 + the current through R2 equals I1). So we get:
R_2(I_1 - I_2) = R_3I_2
Solve for I2 and you're done. :smile:
 
Wow that helps, thanks a lot :smile:
 

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