184_notes:kirchoffs_rules

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184_notes:kirchoffs_rules [2020/08/23 20:21] – dmcpadden184_notes:kirchoffs_rules [2021/03/04 17:02] – [Step 1: Pick the direction of current in each branch of the circuit] bartonmo
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 ==== Step 1: Pick the direction of current in each branch of the circuit ==== ==== Step 1: Pick the direction of current in each branch of the circuit ====
 [{{  184_notes:loop_node_circuits_2.png?300|Current $I_1$ is picked to go clockwise around the left branch, current $I_2$ is picked to go clockwise around the right branch, and current $I_3$ is picked to go down through the middle branch.}}] [{{  184_notes:loop_node_circuits_2.png?300|Current $I_1$ is picked to go clockwise around the left branch, current $I_2$ is picked to go clockwise around the right branch, and current $I_3$ is picked to go down through the middle branch.}}]
-The first thing we need to do when solving these problems is to pick a direction for the current in each branch of the circuit. This is very similar to picking a coordinate system, just in the context of circuits. In the circuit below, we have picked the directions for the currents labeled now as $I_1$, $I_2$, and $I_3$. You can pick which ever directions you want in this step. For example, we could have picked $I_3$ to point up instead of down (or similarly for the other currents). It doesn't matter what direction you pick for the current directions in this step as long as you are consistent with the current directions in the following steps. (This is the same idea as it doesn't matter which direction you call the x-direction as long as you are consistent with your use of "x" after that.)+The first thing we need to do when solving these problems is to pick a direction for the current in each branch of the circuit. This is very similar to picking a coordinate system, just in the context of circuits. In the circuit below, we have picked the directions for the currents labeled now as $I_1$, $I_2$, and $I_3$. You can pick which ever directions you want in this step. For example, we could have picked $I_3$ to point up instead of down (or similarly for the other currents). //It doesn't matter what direction you pick for the current directions in this step as long as you are consistent with the current directions in the following steps.// (This is the same idea as it doesn't matter which direction you call the x-direction as long as you are consistent with your use of "x" after that.)
  
 ==== Step 2: Identify the Nodes and write out the Node Rule equations ==== ==== Step 2: Identify the Nodes and write out the Node Rule equations ====
  • 184_notes/kirchoffs_rules.txt
  • Last modified: 2022/02/21 21:52
  • by dmcpadden