Determine each node voltage in this series/parallel circuit Please(:

LesJones

Joined Jan 8, 2017
4,174
Simplify the circut so it just looks like 3 resistors in series. I assume this is homework so I will just give you that hint. You would learn nothing is I just gave you the answer.

Les.
 
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Thread Starter

Logan Negus

Joined Jan 24, 2017
4
I get a 200 ohm resistor when you simplify the parallel part, but my concern is that does the resistor get placed on the left or right side of the "A" node
 

WBahn

Joined Mar 31, 2012
29,976
I get a 200 ohm resistor when you simplify the parallel part, but my concern is that does the resistor get placed on the left or right side of the "A" node
Don't worry about maintaining the integrity of Node A (or any of the nodes) for now. First find the total amount of current flowing in the battery. Once you know that you know the current in some of the resistors and can walk the voltage drops from a known voltage (one side or the other of the battery) to one of the nodes to find the voltage at that node. Do that for as many nodes as you can. Then use that new knowledge to tease out the rest of the voltages.

For instance, if you already knew the voltage at B (say I told you what it was), could you use that information, without knowing any of the currents in the circuit, to figure out the voltage at Node A?
 

ErnieM

Joined Apr 24, 2011
8,377
I got 200 ohms for the resistor at A but whatever i do to find Va, Vb, Vc doesnt make sense
Correct!

Now you have three resistors in series, 200, 100 and 100 ohms. Redraw the circuit if you do not see that. (If you've been at this as long as some of us the circuit redraws itself for you.)
 

Motanache

Joined Mar 2, 2015
540
"Now you have three resistors in series, 200, 100 and 100 ohms."
Now you have two resistors in series, 200, 200 ohms.And Vb between them.
So Vb is half the supply voltage Vb= 6V.
Vc is half this 6V, so Vc=3V.
Va it is between R1=100ohms and R2=300ohms:
R1 have a quarter and R2 have three-quarters form a voltage difference between V+ and Vb, that is 6V.
6/4V on R1 => Va=12V-1.5V

Please check the solving, I wrote in haste.
But this is not the way to solve. you have to apply the formulas and learned rules.



Difference between V+ and Vb =6V
 

ErnieM

Joined Apr 24, 2011
8,377
"Now you have three resistors in series, 200, 100 and 100 ohms."
Now you have two resistors in series, 200, 200 ohms.And Vb between them.
So Vb is half the supply voltage Vb= 6V.
Vc is half this 6V, so Vc=3V.
Va it is between R1=100ohms and R2=300ohms:
R1 have a quarter and R2 have three-quarters form a voltage difference between V+ and Vb, that is 6V.
6/4V on R1 => Va=12V-1.5V

Please check the solving, I wrote in haste.
But this is not the way to solve. you have to apply the formulas and learned rules.



Difference between V+ and Vb =6V
Giving an answer, especially without explanation, teaches nothing.
 
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