MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

ESG Physics
CHAPTER 28: DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS. Exercises.

8.02 with Kai Spring 2003

Problem Set 6 Solution

Problem 1: 28.6
(a) Find the equivalent resistance between points a and b in Figure P28.6.
(b) Calculate the current in each resistor if a potential difference of 34.0 V is applied
between points a and b.

Solution:
(a)

1
Rp = = 4.12Ω (1.1)
1 1
+
7.00 10.0

Rs = R1 + R2 + R3 = 4.00 + 4.12 + 9.00 = 17.1 Ω (1.2)

(b) For the 4.00 Ω and 9.00 Ω resistors, since ∆V = IR , we have

∆V 34.0
I= = = 1.99 A (1.3)
R 17.1

For the 7.00 Ω resistor, we have

8.18
I= = 1.17 A (1.4)
7.00

For the 10.0 Ω resistor, we have

8.18
I= = 0.818 A (1.5)
10.0
Problem 2: 28.16.
Two resistors connected in series have an equivalent resistance of 690 Ω . When they are
connected in parallel, their equivalent resistance is 150 Ω . Find the resistance of each
resistor.

Solution:
Denoting the two resistors as x and y,

x + y = 690 (2.1)

and

1 1 1
= + (2.2)
150 x y

Substituting equation (2.1) to (2.2), we have

1 1
= +
1
=
( 690 − x ) + x (2.3)
150 x 690 − x x ( 690 − x )

which gives

x 2 − 690 x + 103,500 = 0 (2.4)

By solving this quadratic equation, we have

x = 470 Ω and y = 220 Ω (2.5)

Problem 3: 28.17
In Figures 28.4 and 28.5, let R1 = 11.0 Ω , let R2 = 22.0 Ω , and let the battery have a
terminal voltage of 33.0 V.

(a) in the parallel circuit shown in Figure 28.5, which resistor uses more power?
(b) Verify that the sum of the power ( I 2 R ) used by each resistor equals the power
supplied by the battery ( I ∆V ) .
(c) In the series circuit, which resistor uses more power?
(d) Verify that the sum of the power ( I 2 R ) used by each resistor equals the power
supplied by the battery ( P = I ∆V ) .
(e) Which circuit configuration uses more power?

Solution:
(a)
∆V = IR (3.1)

Therefore

33.0 V=I1 (11.0 Ω ) and 33.0 V = I 2 ( 22.0 Ω ) (3.2)

Therefore,

I1 = 3.00 A and I 2 = 1.50 A (3.3)

Since P = I 2 R , we have

P1 = ( 3.00 A ) (11.0 Ω ) and P2 = (1.50 A ) ( 22.0 Ω )

2 2
(3.4)

which gives

P1 = 99.0 W and P2 = 49.5 W (3.5)

 Therefore, the 11.0- Ω resistor uses more power.

(b) Since P1 + P2 = 148 W , we have

P = I ( ∆V ) = ( 4.50 )( 33.0 ) = 148 W (3.6)

(c)

Rs = R1 + R2 = 11.0 + 22.0 = 33.0 Ω (3.7)

Since ∆V = IR ,
V 33.0 Ω
I= = = 1.00 A (3.8)
P 33.0 V

Since P = I 2 R , we have

P1 = (1.00 A ) (11.0 Ω ) and P2 = (1.00 A ) ( 22.0 Ω )

2 2
(3.9)

and you will probably get

P1 = 110 W and P2 = 22.0 W (3.10)

Therefore the 22.0- Ω resistor uses more power.

(d)
P1 + P2 = I 2 ( R1 + R2 ) = (1.00 A ) ( 33.0 Ω ) = 33.0 W
2
(3.11)

P = I ( ∆V ) = (1.00 A )( 33.0 V ) = 33.0 W (3.12)

(e) The parallel configuration uses more power.

Problem 4: 28.18
The ammeter shown in Figure P28.18 reads 2.00 A. Find I1 , I 2 and ε .

Solution:

Applying Kirchhoff’s Rule in the upper loop, we get

15.0 − ( 7.00 ) I1 − ( 2.00 )( 5.00 ) = 0 (4.1)

which gives

I1 = 0.714 A (4.2)

Since
I1 + I 2 = 2 A (4.3)

therefore

I 2 = 1.29 A (4.4)

Applying Kirchhoff’s Rule in the bottom loop, we get

+ε − 2.00 (1.29 ) − ( 5.00 )( 2.00 ) = 0 (4.5)

which gives

ε = 12.6 V (4.6)
Problem 5: 28.23
If R = 1.00 kΩ and ε = 250 V in Figure P28.23, determine the direction and magnitude
of the current in the horizontal wire between a and e.

Solution:

Label the currents in the branches as shown in the first

figure. Reduce the circuit by combining the two
parallel resistors as shown in the second figure.

Apply Kirchhoff’s looop rule to both loops in Figure

(b) to obtain
( 2.71R ) I1 + (1.71R ) I 2 = 250 (5.1)
(1.71R ) I1 + ( 3.71R ) I 2 = 500 (5.2)

With R = 1000 Ω , simultaneous solution of these

equations yields

I1 = 10.0 mA and I 2 = 130.0 mA (5.3)

From Figure (b),

Vc − Va = ( I1 + I 2 )(1.71R ) = 240 V (5.4)

Therefore, from Figure (a),

Vc − Va 240 V
I4 = = (5.5)
4R 4000 Ω

which gives

I 4 = 60.0 mA (5.6)

Finally, applying Kirchhoff’s point rule at point a in Figure (a) gives

I = I 4 − I1 = 60.0 − 10.0 = 50.0 mA (5.7)

or
I = 50.0 mA flowing from point a to point e (5.8)
Problem 6: 28.34
A 4.00- MΩ resistor and 3.00- µ F capacitor are connected in series with a 12.0-V power
supply.
(a) What is the time constant for the circuit?
(b) Express the current in the circuit and the charge on the capacitor as functions of
time.

Solution:
(a)
τ = RC = ( 4.00 ×10−6 Ω )( 3.00 × 10−6 F ) (6.1)

which gives
τ = 12.0s (6.2)

(b) sdfldskfj
ε −
t
12.0 −
t
I= e τ
= e 12.0
(6.3)
R 4.00 × 10−6

 − 
t
 −
t

q = Cε 1 − e τ  = 3.00 × 10−6 (12.0 )  1 − e 12.0  (6.4)
   

After simplifying, we have

 −
t
 −
t
q = 36.0 µ C 1 − e 12.0
 and I = 3.00µ Ae
12.0
(6.5)
 
Problem 7: 28.69
(a) Using symmetry arguments, show that the current through any resistor in the
I I
configuration of Figure P28.69 is either of l All resistors have the same
3 6
resistance r.
5
(b) Show that the equivalent resistance between points a and b is r .
6

Solution:
(a)
r
i/6
r r r i/3 i/6 i/3
r r i/6
r i/3 i/3
a r b a i/6 b

r i/6
r r i/3 i/3
r i/6

another set of
3 junctions at 3 junctions at
the same potential the same potential

(b)