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| 184_notes:kirchoffs_rules [2020/08/23 20:21] – dmcpadden | 184_notes:kirchoffs_rules [2022/02/21 21:52] (current) – [Step 3: Identify the Loops and write out the Loop Rule equations] dmcpadden |
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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.) |
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| ==== Step 2: Identify the Nodes and write out the Node Rule equations ==== | ==== Step 2: Identify the Nodes and write out the Node Rule equations ==== |
| It doesn't matter where you pick the starting point of the loops or which direction (clockwise or counterclockwise) around the loop that you pick, but the loop must return to the same point as the start point and the equation must be consistent with the loop direction that you pick. As we talked about before, **when you are constructing the loop equations, there is a positive change in potential when you move from a low potential to a high potential across a circuit element (whether it's a battery, capacitor, or resistor) and there is a negative change in potential when you move from a high potential to a low potential across an element**. Again, this is true for all circuit elements - including batteries, resistors, and capacitors. | It doesn't matter where you pick the starting point of the loops or which direction (clockwise or counterclockwise) around the loop that you pick, but the loop must return to the same point as the start point and the equation must be consistent with the loop direction that you pick. As we talked about before, **when you are constructing the loop equations, there is a positive change in potential when you move from a low potential to a high potential across a circuit element (whether it's a battery, capacitor, or resistor) and there is a negative change in potential when you move from a high potential to a low potential across an element**. Again, this is true for all circuit elements - including batteries, resistors, and capacitors. |
| * For batteries, the positive and negative sides are indicated by the length of the line (the longer line is the positive side, the shorter line is the negative side). | * For batteries, the positive and negative sides are indicated by the length of the line (the longer line is the positive side, the shorter line is the negative side). |
| * **For resistors, the positive and negative sides are indicated by the current directions you chose.** Since conventional current is the flow of positive charges from higher potential to negative potential, the "positive" side of the resistor is the side closest to the tail of the current arrow and the "negative" side of the resistor is the side closest to the head of the current arrow. | * For resistors, the positive and negative sides are indicated by the **current directions //you// chose.** Since conventional current is the flow of positive charges from higher potential to negative potential, the "positive" side of the resistor is the side closest to the tail of the current arrow and the "negative" side of the resistor is the side closest to the head of the current arrow. |
| * For capacitors, they will either come pre-labeled which indicate which side is positive/negative or they follow the same rule based on the current direction as resistors. | * For capacitors, they will either come pre-labeled which indicate which side is positive/negative or they follow the same rule based on the current direction as resistors. |
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| Once you have the loop equations written out, you can always substitute $\Delta V = IR$ to make better use of your knowns/unknowns. For example, we could rewrite Loop ABEDA as: | Once you have the loop equations written out, you can always substitute $\Delta V = IR$ to make better use of your knowns/unknowns. For example, we could rewrite Loop ABEDA as: |
| $$\text{Loop ABEDA: } -I_3R_\beta - I_2R_\delta + \Delta V_1 = 0$$ | $$\text{Loop ABEDA: } -I_3R_\beta - I_1R_\delta + \Delta V_1 = 0$$ |
| Since this form of the equation better relates the unknown currents with the known resistor values and battery voltages. | Since this form of the equation better relates the unknown currents with the known resistor values and battery voltages. |
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