Current Between Resistors Isaac Physics

Hi guys,

I cant seem to do this problem. I dont know what I am doing wrong. I am getting the current through the ammeter to be 1/6 of the total current, and the total current being 5V/6R, and then answer is wrong.

My workings: https://imgur.com/a/rXKCQPd
Question: https://imgur.com/a/FfRJpwO

I will be grateful for any help.

Reply 1

mosaurlodon

youre pretty close, only thing is your sum of R is wrong.

treat it as 2 separate parallel circuits and each circuit is in series.

so work out equivalent R of red and equivalent R of orange and sum them.

hope that helps

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 2

skibidi23542

Thanks! Very helpful😁. But why is it that I have to think of it as two parallel circuits instead of how I was doing it before, finding the sum of resistance on the top and then bottom and then finding the total resistance, is it because of the ammeter in the middle?

Reply 3

mosaurlodon

Yup its cause of the ammeter.
you can redraw the circuit so its 2 parallel circuits in series (which maintains the same connections between resistors etc.):

tho I would suggest doing this in your head (especially in time crunches for exams/interviews etc.)

if there were no Ammeter in the middle you would be right with your method