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Circuits and Circuit Elements

Problem D
CURRENT IN AND POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE ACROSS A RESISTOR
PROBLEM

Determine the current in and the potential difference across the 5.0  resistor in the circuit diagram at right.
SOLUTION

1. Determine the equivalent resistance in the circuit.

For group (a): Req,a = 5.0 + 2.0 = 7.0 = R2
1
1
1
1
1
For group (b): = + = +
Req,b R1 R2 4.0 7.0
1
0.25 0.14 0.39
= + =
Req,b 1 1 1

(b)
3.0

4.0

5.0

2.0

6.0

(a)

(c)

12 V

Req,b = 2.6
For group (c): Req,c = 3.0 + 2.6 + 6.0 = 11.6
2. Calculate the total current in the circuit, which is the current in group (c).
Vtot
12.0 V
I =
= = 1.0 A
Req
11.6

4. Follow the path determined in step 3, and calculate the current in and the
potential difference across each equivalent resistance. Repeat this process
until the desired values are found.
Regroup, evaluate, and calculate. The circuits equivalent resistance is that of
group (c), as found in step 1 above. The resistors in group (c) are in series; therefore, the current in each resistor is the same as the current in the equivalent resistance, which equals 1.0 A. The potential difference across group (b), which is
represented by the 2.6 resistor in group (c), can be replaced with V = IR.
R = 2.6

Given:

I = 1.0 A

Unknown:

V = ?
V = IR = (1.0 A)(2.6 ) = 2.6 V

Regroup, evaluate, and calculate. Replace the center resistor with group (b).
The resistors in group (b) are in parallel; therefore, the potential difference
across each resistor is the same as the potential difference across the 2.6
equivalent resistance, which equals 2.6 V. The current in the 7.0 resistor in
group (b) can be calculated using I = V/R.
Given:

V = 2.6 V

Unknown:

I=?

R = 7.0

V 2.6 V
I = = = 0.37 A
R 7.0
Ch. 188

Holt Physics Problem Bank

Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

3. Determine a path from the equivalent resistance found in step 1 to the

5.0  resistor. Review the path taken to find the equivalent resistance and
work backward through this path.

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NAME ______________________________________ DATE _______________ CLASS ____________________

Regroup, evaluate, and calculate. Replace the 7.0 resistor with group (a).
The resistors in group (a) are in series; therefore, the current in each resistor
is the same as the current in the 7.0 equivalent resistance, which equals
0.37 A.
I = 0.37 A
The potential difference across the 5.0 resistor can be calculated using
V = IR.
R = 5.0

Given:

I = 0.37 A

Unknown:

V = ?
V = IR = (0.37 A)(5.0 ) = 1.85 V
V = 1.85 V

ADDITIONAL PRACTICE
1. Determine the current in and the potential
difference across the 4.0 resistor in the
circuit diagram at right.

10.0
10.0
10.0
3.0

2. Determine the current in and the potential

difference across the 9.0 resistor in the
circuit diagram at right.

4.0

12.0 V

6.0

2.0

8.0

4.0

9.0

Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

1.5 V

3. Determine the current in and the

potential difference across the 6.0
resistor in the circuit diagram at right.

7.0

4. Determine the current in and the potential

difference across the 10.0 resistor in the
circuit diagram at right.

3.0
6.0

2.0

4.0

5.0

5.0

4.0 3.0

2.0 10.0 6.0

7.0

5. Determine the current in and the potential

difference across the 4.0 resistor in the
circuit diagram at right.

9.0 V

9.0 V

2.0

4.0 6.0

1.0

3.0
5.0
3.0 V

Problem D

Ch. 189

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NAME ______________________________________ DATE _______________ CLASS ____________________

2.0

6. Determine the current in and the

potential difference across the
3.0 resistor in the circuit diagram at right.

3.0

2.0
2.0

2.0 4.0

3.0 V
5.0

7. Determine the current in and the

potential difference across the 2.0
resistor in the circuit diagram at
right.

2.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

12.0 V
2.0

8. Determine the current in and the

potential difference across the 7.0
resistor in the circuit diagram at right.

3.0

3.0

7.0
4.0
5.0

6.0

4.0

6.0 12.0 6.0

5.0

10. Determine the current in and the

potential difference across the 15.0
resistor in the circuit diagram at
right.

3.0

3.0

3.0

4.0

1.5 V

15.0
30.0
6.0
5.0

Ch. 1810

Holt Physics Problem Bank

12.0 V

Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

9. Determine the current in and the

potential difference
across the 12.0
resistor in the circuit
diagram at right.

12.0 V

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Givens
9. Vtot = 24.0 V

Solutions
Series:

R1 = 4.0

Group (a): Req,a = R6 + R7 + R8 = 2.0 + 4.0 + 2.0 = 8.0

R2 = 4.0

Group (b): Req,b = R9 + R10 = 4.0 + 2.0 = 6.0

R3 = 4.0

Parrallel:

R4 = 3.0

1
1
1
1
1
0.25 0.25
Group (c): = + = + = +
Req,c R1 R2 4.0 4.0
1 1

R5 = 1.0
R6 = 2.0
R7 = 4.0
R8 = 2.0
R9 = 4.0
R10 = 2.0
R11 = 2.0

Req,c = 2.0
1
1
1
1
1
0.13 0.17
Group (d): = + = + = +
Req,d Req,a Req,b 8.0 6.0
1
1
Req,d = 3.4
Series:
Group (e): Req,e = Req,c + R3 + R4 + R5 + Req,d + R11
Req,e = 2.0 + 4.0 + 3.0 + 1.0 + 3.4 + 2.0 = 15
Vtot 24.0 V
= = 1.6 A
I =
Req,e
15

10. V = 24.0 V
R1 = 4.0
R2 = 8.0
R3 = 2.0
R4 = 5.0
R5 = 3.0
R6 = 2.0
R7 = 3.0

Parallel:
1
0.25 0.13
1
1
1
1
Group (a): = + = + = +
1
Req,a R1 R2 4.0 8.0 1
Req,a = 2.6
1
0.50 0.33
1
1
1
1
Group (b): = + = + = +
1
1
Req,b R6 R7 2.0 3.0
Req,b = 1.2
Series:
Req = 2Req,a + R3 + R4 + R5 + Req,b = (2)(2.7 ) + 2.0 + 5.0 + 1.2 + 3.0

Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

Req = 17
Vtot 24.0 V
I =
= = 1.4 A
Req
17

Additional Practice D
1. Vtot = 12.0 V
R1 = 3.0
R2 = 10.0
R3 = 10.0
R4 = 10.0
R5 = 4.0

Parallel:
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0.100 0.100 0.100
= + + = + + = + +
Req,a R2 R3 R4 10.0 10.0 10.0
1
1
1
Req,a = 3.3
Series:
Req,b = R1 + Req,a + R5 = 3.0 + 3.3 + 4.0 = 10
Vtot 12.0 V
= = 1.2 A
I =
Req,b
10
V = IR5
V = (1.2 A)(4.0 ) = 4.8 V

Section FiveProblem Bank

V Ch. 187

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Lesson
Givens

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Solutions

2. Vtot = 1.5 V
R1 = 6.0

Parallel:

R2 = 2.0

1
1
1
1
1
0.125 0.111
= + = + = +
Req,a R4 R5 8.0 9.0
1

R3 = 4.0

Req,a = 4.2

R4 = 8.0

Series:

R5 = 9.0

Req = R1 + R2 + R3 + Req,a = 6.0 + 2.0 + 4.0 + 4.2 = 16

Vtot 1.5 V
I =
= = 0.094 A
Req
16
V = IReq,a = (0.094 A)(4.2 ) = 0.39 V
V 0.39 V
I = = = 0.043 A
R5
9.0

3. Vtot = 9.0 V
R1 = 5.0

Parallel:

R2 = 4.0

1
1
1
1
1
0.14 0.17
= + = + = +
Req,a R3 R4 7.0 6.0
1
1

R3 = 7.0

Req,a = 3.2

R4 = 6.0

Series:

R5 = 3.0

Req = R1 + R2 + Req,a + R5 + R6 = 5.0 + 4.0 + 3.2 + 3.0 + 2.0 = 17

R6 = 2.0

Vtot 9.0 V
I =
= = 0.52 A
Req
17
V = I Req,a = (0.52 A)(3.2 ) = 1.7 V
V
1.7 V
I = = = 0.28 A
R4
6.0
Series:

R1 = 7.0

Req,a = R2 + R3 + R4 = 5.0 + 4.0 + 3.0 = 12.0

R2 = 5.0

Req,b = R5 + R6 + R7 = 2.0 + 10.0 + 6.0 = 18.0

R3 = 4.0

Parallel:

R4 = 3.0
R5 = 2.0

1
1
1
1
1
0.083 0.056
=
+ = + = +
Req,b Req,a Req,b 12.0 18.0
1
1

R6 = 10.0

Req,b = 7.2

R7 = 6.0

Series:
Req,d = R1 + Req,c = 7.0 + 7.2 = 14
Vtot 9.0 V
I =
= = 0.63 A
Req
14
V = IReq,c = (0.63 A)(7.2 ) = 4.5 V
4.5 V
V
I = = = 0.25 A
18.0
R6

V Ch. 188

V = IR6 = (0.25 A)(10.0 ) = 2.5 V

Holt Physics Solution Manual

Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

4. Vtot = 9.0 V

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Lesson
Givens
5. Vtot = 3.0 V

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Solutions
Series:

R1 = 2.0

Req,a = R1 + R2 + R3 = 2.0 + 4.0 + 6.0 = 12

R2 = 4.0

Req,b = R4 + R5 = 1.0 + 3.0 = 4.0

R3 = 6.0

Parallel:

R4 = 1.0
R5 = 3.0

1
1
1
1
1
1
0.083 0.25 0.20
1
= + + = + + = + +
Req,c Req,a Req,b Req 12 4.0 5.0
1
1 1

R6 = 5.0

Req,c = 1.9
3.0 V
Vtot
I =
= = 1.6 A
1.9
Req,c
V
3.0 V
I = = = 0.25 A
Req,a
12
V = IR2 = (0.25 A)(4.0 ) = 1.0 V

6. Vtot = 3.0 V

Series:

R1 = 2.0

Req,a = R1 + R2 = 2.0 + 3.0 = 5.0

R2 = 3.0

Req,b = R3 + R4 = 2.0 + 4.0 = 6.0

R3 = 2.0

Parallel:

R4 = 4.0
R5 = 2.0
R6 = 2.0

1
1
1
1
1
0.20 0.17
=
+ = + = +
Req,c Req,a Req,b 5.0 6.0
1
1
Req,c = 2.7
1
1
1
1
1
= + = +
Req,d R5 R6 2.0 2.0
Req,d = 1.0
Series:

Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

Req = Req,c + Req,d = 2.7 + 1.0 = 3.7

3.0 V
Vtot
I =
= = 0.81 A
3.7
Req
V = IReq,c = (0.81 A)(2.7 ) = 2.2 V
V
2.2 V
I = = = 0.44 A
Req,a 5.0
V = IR2 = (0.44 A)(3.0 ) = 1.3 V

Section FiveProblem Bank

V Ch. 189

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Lesson
Givens

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Solutions

7. Vtot = 12.0 V
R1 = 5.0

Parallel:

R2 = 5.0

1
0.20 0.20
1
1
1
1
= + = + = +
1
1
Req,a R1 R2 5.0 5.0

R3 = 5.0

Req,a = 2.5

R4 = 2.0

Series:

R5 = 5.0

Req,b = R4 + R5 = 2.0 + 5.0 = 7.0

R6 = 5.0

Req,c = R6 + R7 = 5.0 + 5.0 = 10

R7 = 5.0

Parallel:
1
1
1
0.14 0.10
1
1
= + = + = +
1 1
Req,d Req,b Req,c 7.0 10
Req,d = 4.2
Series:
Req = Req,a + R3 + Req,d = 2.5 + 5.0 + 4.2 = 12
Vtot 12.0 V
I =
= = 1.0 A
Req
12
V = IReq,d = (1.0 A)(4.2 ) = 4.2 V
V
4.2 V
I = = = 0.6 A
Req,b 7.0
V = IR4 = (0.6 A)(2.0 ) = 1.2 V

R1 = 4.0

Parallel:

R2 = 5.0

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0.50 0.33 0.14
= + + = + + = + +
Req,a R3 R4 R5 2.0 3.0 7.0
1 1 1

R3 = 2.0

Req,a = 1.0

R4 = 3.0
R5 = 7.0

1
1
1
1
1
0.25 0.20
= + = + = +
Req,b R1 R2 4.0 5.0 1 1

R6 = 3.0

Req,b = 2.2
Series:
Req,c = Req,a + Req,b + R4 = 1.0 + 2.2 + 3.0 = 6.2
Vtot 12.0 V
I =
= = 1.9 A
Req,c
6.2
V = IReq,a = (1.9 A)(1.0 ) = 1.9 V
V 1.9 V
I = = = 0.27 A
7.0
R5

V Ch. 1810

Holt Physics Solution Manual

Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

8. Vtot = 12.0 V

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Lesson
Givens
9. Vtot = 1.5 V

Print
Solutions
Series:

R1 = 4.0

Req,a = R3 + R4 = 6.0 + 4.0 = 10

R2 = 5.0

Req,b = R5 + R6 + R7 = 6.0 + 12.0 + 6.0 = 24

R3 = 6.0

Req,c = R8 + R9 = 3.0 + 3.0 = 6.0

R4 = 4.0

Parallel:

R5 = 6.0
R6 = 12.0

1
1
1
1
0.10 0.042 0.17
= + + = + +
Req,d Req,a Req,b Req,c
1
1
1

R7 = 6.0

Req,d = 3.2

R8 = 3.0

Series:

R9 = 3.0

Req = R1 + R2 + Req,d + R10 = 4.0 + 5.0 + 3.2 + 3.0 = 15

R10 = 3.0

Vtot 1.5 V
I =
= = 0.10 A
Req
15
V = IReq,d = (0.10 A)(3.2 ) = 0.32 V
V
0.32 V
I = = = 0.013 A
Req,b
24
V = IR6 = (0.013 A)(12 ) = 0.16 V

10. Vtot = 12.0 V

R1 = 5.0

Parallel:

R2 = 6.0

1
1
1
1
1
0.067 0.033
= + = + = +
Req,a R3 R4 15.0 30.0
1
1

R3 = 15.0

Req,a = 10

R4 = 30.0

Series:

Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

Req = R1 + R2 + Req,a = 5.0 + 6.0 + 10.0 = 21

Vtot 12.0 V
I =
= = 0.57 A
Req
21
V = IReq,a = (0.57 A)(10 ) = 5.7 V
5.7 V
V
I = = = 0.38 A
15.0
R3

Section FiveProblem Bank

V Ch. 1811