Bridge Current

What is the magnitude (absolute value) of the current in the bridge (shown as a green arrow in the diagram)?


The answer is 0.4.

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1 solution

Chew-Seong Cheong
Feb 19, 2017

The resultant resistance in series with the 10 V voltage source R A B = ( 1 2 ) + ( 3 4 ) = R_{AB} = (1||2)+(3||4) = 1 × 2 1 + 2 + 3 × 4 3 + 4 = \dfrac {1\times 2}{1+2} + \dfrac {3 \times 4}{3+4} = 2 3 + 12 7 = 50 21 Ω \dfrac 23 + \dfrac {12}7 = \dfrac {50}{21} \ \Omega .

The current through the voltage source I = 10 50 21 = 4.2 I = \dfrac {10}{\frac {50}{21}} = 4.2 A.

By current division, the currents through the 1 Ω \Omega and 2 Ω \Omega are I A C = 2 3 × 4.2 = 2.8 I_{AC} = \dfrac 23 \times 4.2 = 2.8 A and I A D = 1 3 × 4.2 = 1.4 I_{AD} = \dfrac 13 \times 4.2 = 1.4 A.

Similarly, I C B = 4 7 × 4.2 = 2.4 I_{CB} = \dfrac 47 \times 4.2 = 2.4 A and I D B = 3 7 × 4.2 = 1.8 I_{DB} = \dfrac 37 \times 4.2 = 1.8 A.

Therefore, I C D = I A C I C B = 2.8 2.4 = 0.4 I_{CD} = I_{AC} - I_{CB} = 2.8 - 2.4 = \boxed{0.4} A.

Note that I A D + I C D = I D B I_{AD} + I_{CD} = I_{DB} , which is true as 1.4 + 0.4 = 1.8 1.4 + 0.4 = 1.8 A.

Nice solution. The key being that since the bridge has no resistance, there is no voltage drop so one can imagine the bridge being shrunk to zero length, which is how one gets the 1||2 in series with the 3||4. Also note that the problems become much harder to solve if CD contains a resistor.

Richard Costen - 4 years, 3 months ago

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You can draw it on paper and post. I will help to put it in a proper diagram.

Chew-Seong Cheong - 4 years, 3 months ago

Do you want to post the harder version?

Steven Chase - 4 years, 3 months ago

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I made up a problem to post. Never posted anything before. Either today or tomorrow. But what do you use to make the diagram?

Richard Costen - 4 years, 3 months ago

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@Richard Costen MS paint. Ha ha

Steven Chase - 4 years, 3 months ago

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@Steven Chase I finally found a circuit diagram application that I could use the create the diagram. Most of the apps I tried wouldn't allow for 4 5 45^\circ rotations of components. I just posted the problem now. Hope my first attempt at posting is ok. Btw, one of my daughters did amazing things with MS paint, so now there are at least two experts at using it. :)

Richard Costen - 4 years, 3 months ago

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@Richard Costen Yeah, Paint is actually not bad for simple things. Nice problem, too.

Steven Chase - 4 years, 3 months ago

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@Steven Chase I use Paint too.

Chew-Seong Cheong - 4 years, 3 months ago

@Richard Costen You may post the hand drawn images as well. Just draw the circuit on a paper, take a pic and upload it.

Rohit Gupta - 4 years, 3 months ago

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