Why Is Current in AB Finite in a Circuit with Zero Resistance?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a circuit problem involving an ideal galvanometer and the behavior of current in a segment with zero resistance. Participants are exploring the implications of having a resistance of zero in relation to current flow and voltage drops.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to apply Ohm's law and Kirchhoff's laws to understand the current in a segment with zero resistance, questioning why the current is finite. Other participants suggest considering the role of additional resistances in the circuit and the behavior of an ideal galvanometer.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively questioning the assumptions regarding resistance and current flow. Some guidance has been offered regarding the treatment of the galvanometer and the potential drops in the circuit, but no consensus has been reached on the interpretation of the problem.

Contextual Notes

There is an ongoing discussion about the implications of an ideal galvanometer's resistance being zero and how this affects the overall circuit analysis. The presence of other resistances in the circuit is noted as a factor that influences the current flow.

sbhit2001
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PROBLEM-
http://ijso2013.hbcse.tifr.res.in/files/qna/theory-2008.pdf
questions 1-10 to 1-12.
ATTEMPT AT SOLUTION
In the first question, I am unable to understand how the current in AB is equal to 0.2A when the resistance of AB is 0(galvanometer is ideal). As current is equal to V/R, it would become infinite by this formula as r=0. I also tries using Kirchoff's laws and took the two loops with AB as one side and the sides with the resistances as the other sides but then also I got 2 equations and three unknowns . I fail to understand why current in AB is finite whereas resistance is zero. Please provide some sort of clue...
 
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If the galvanometer truly has a resistance of zero then the potential drops will occur elsewhere. Fortunately there are resistances between the galvanometer and the voltage source that serve this purpose.

An ideal galvanometer behaves just like a piece of wire with no resistance, or in the real world, like a wire with negligible resistance compared to other resistances in the circuit.
 
But shouldn't there be a resistance necessarily between A and B due to current flowing from A to B?
 
sbhit2001 said:
But shouldn't there be a resistance necessarily between A and B due to current flowing from A to B?

A wire carries current just fine without worrying about resistance.

If you wish, assign a resistance to it (say, rg), solve the problem then take the limit as rg → 0. But this is an unnecessary complication.

You can use KVL across the galvanometer just fine by setting its potential drop to zero.
 

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