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Isaac physics help!

The circuit has three resistors in a line: 2R, R and 2R. There is a wire passing over each set of 2R and R.
Figure 1: A circuit is shown above. Assume the cell and wires are ideal.

Part A
Equivalent resistance
Find the equivalent resistance of the circuit.

The following symbols may be useful: R, V


Part B
Current
Find the current flowing through the circuit in terms of V and R.

Reply 1

Original post
by LisaPerera
The circuit has three resistors in a line: 2R, R and 2R. There is a wire passing over each set of 2R and R.
Figure 1: A circuit is shown above. Assume the cell and wires are ideal.

Part A
Equivalent resistance
Find the equivalent resistance of the circuit.

The following symbols may be useful: R, V


Part B
Current
Find the current flowing through the circuit in terms of V and R.

I recommend that you post the link to the Isaac Physics question instead of just copying and pasting it here, as there is missing information.
I presume that the link below is the question that you are asking.
https://isaacphysics.org/questions/phys19_c4a_q8

Hope that you can explain what you have done or the issues you are facing.

First, let's look at the more “complex” circuit as shown below.
wheatatone03a.JPG

The above can be transformed into the following circuit, aka “Wheatstone bridge circuit” as shown below.
wheatatone03b.JPG.jpg

By removing the resistors R2 and R4, the circuit becomes the circuit in Isaac Physics.

Can you see how R1, R3 and R5 are arranged without R2 and R4 in the "Wheatstone bridge circuit"?

Once you are able to see R1, R3 and R5 are arranged, you would be able to solve the problem in Isaac Physics.

Reply 2

Based on the circuit in the link https://isaacphysics.org/questions/phys19_c4a_q8 I propose this calculation:
In this circuit, the resistors are connected in parallel. When they’re in parallel, you can find the equivalent resistance by adding up the reciprocals of each resistor.
Here’s the formula for the equivalent resistance (Req):
1/Req = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 + ...
In your case, we have three resistors: 2R, R, and 2R. So, 1/Req = 1/(2R) + 1/R + 1/(2R)
To work this out, let’s find a common denominator, which is 2R:
1/Req = 1/(2R) + 2/(2R) + 1/(2R)
Now, we can add up the numerators:
1/Req = (1 + 2 + 1) / (2R)
1/Req = 4 / (2R)
1/Req = 2 / R
Taking the reciprocal gives us:
Req = R / 2
So, the equivalent resistance of the circuit is R/2.
For the current part:
We can find the current using Ohm’s Law, which is:
V = IxR
Where:
V is the voltage in the circuit
I is the current
R is the equivalent resistance
We know the voltage is V and we figured out the equivalent resistance is R/2. Rearranging Ohm’s Law gives us:
I = V / R
Substituting the resistance:
I = V / (R/2)
When dividing by a fraction, you multiply by its reciprocal:
I = V x (2/R)
So,
I = 2V / R
Therefore, the current flowing through the circuit is 2V/R.
(edited 9 months ago)

Reply 3

Original post
by Nitrotoluene
Based on the circuit in the link https://isaacphysics.org/questions/phys19_c4a_q8 I propose this calculation:
In this circuit, the resistors are connected in parallel. When they’re in parallel, you can find the equivalent resistance by adding up the reciprocals of each resistor.
Here’s the formula for the equivalent resistance (Req):
1/Req = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 + ...
In your case, we have three resistors: 2R, R, and 2R. So, 1/Req = 1/(2R) + 1/R + 1/(2R)
To work this out, let’s find a common denominator, which is 2R:
1/Req = 1/(2R) + 2/(2R) + 1/(2R)
Now, we can add up the numerators:
1/Req = (1 + 2 + 1) / (2R)
1/Req = 4 / (2R)
1/Req = 2 / R
Taking the reciprocal gives us:
Req = R / 2
So, the equivalent resistance of the circuit is R/2.
For the current part:
We can find the current using Ohm’s Law, which is:
V = IxR
Where:
V is the voltage in the circuit
I is the current
R is the equivalent resistance
We know the voltage is V and we figured out the equivalent resistance is R/2. Rearranging Ohm’s Law gives us:
I = V / R
Substituting the resistance:
I = V / (R/2)
When dividing by a fraction, you multiply by its reciprocal:
I = V x (2/R)
So,
I = 2V / R
Therefore, the current flowing through the circuit is 2V/R.


Hi Nitrotoluene,

It is helpful if you can provide guidance instead of doing all the thinking and works for OP.

Students tend to have what is known as the illusion of understanding by "reading" or "studying" the solutions provided by others without thinking about the solutions.

By "reading" or "studying" the solutions, students are taking in info and that is NOT understanding.

By getting the students to retrieve info and think, we are helping them to make the connections which they lack in the first place.

Although I did not make it explicitly in the Physics Forum guidelines that the helper should not provide detailed solutions like your, I believe we as helper, should help the students to think NOT do their thinking.

After all, they are going to sit for the exam NOT us. I hope this makes sense.

Reply 4

Original post
by Eimmanuel
Hi Nitrotoluene,
It is helpful if you can provide guidance instead of doing all the thinking and works for OP.
Students tend to have what is known as the illusion of understanding by "reading" or "studying" the solutions provided by others without thinking about the solutions.
By "reading" or "studying" the solutions, students are taking in info and that is NOT understanding.
By getting the students to retrieve info and think, we are helping them to make the connections which they lack in the first place.
Although I did not make it explicitly in the Physics Forum guidelines that the helper should not provide detailed solutions like your, I believe we as helper, should help the students to think NOT do their thinking.
After all, they are going to sit for the exam NOT us. I hope this makes sense.

Hi, Eimmanuel!
I have received and understood your message. Thank you for your input.
Ciao,
Sandro

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