Why the current in a loop is the same

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Gbox
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Current Loop
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
3 replies · 2K views
Gbox
Messages
54
Reaction score
0
If for example we have in a loop a DC and 2 resistors connected in series, the current in each resistor is different ##I=\frac{V}{R_i}## but we say that the current is ##I=\frac{V}{R_1+R_2}##?

That means we are looking at the average current in a loop?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Nope. The voltages over the each of the resistors is ##V_i = R_i I_i##, so ##
I_i=\frac{V_i}{R_i}## but the current in each resistor is the same (it has to go somewhere and it can't go anywhere else), so ##I = I_i\ \ \ \forall i##

Since ##V_i = R_i I_i = R_i I##, and ##V = \sum V_i## you get ##V = I (\sum R_i) \Rightarrow I = {V\over \sum R_i}##
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Gbox
Voltage across each resistor will be different. The sum of the voltages will be total applied voltage V.
 
Gbox said:
2 resistors connected in series, the current in each resistor is different
apply Kirchoff's current law to the node between the two resistors. Is it possible for the currents to be different?