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Calculating total resistance in this circuit

  • 31-12-2009 09:06PM
    #1
    Pac1Man
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,407 ✭✭✭


    First of all, I apologise for picture. It was the closest resemblence I could find.:o

    To find the total resistance, do you add the bottom two resistors together and then use the parallel formula to calculate the total resistance with the remaining resistor? (if that makes sence)

    OR

    Do you treat the whole circuit as a parallel circuit and just sub each resistor into the parallel formula.

    My head is telling me it's the first way but I'm not quite sure.

    series_parallel.gif


Comments

  • #2
    Michael Collins
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 1,855 Mod ✭✭✭✭Michael Collins


    The first way is right for resistors. Those symbols look more like lamps tho - but the idea is still more or less the same i.e. bottom two lamps connected in series, top lamp is in parallel with the resulting series combination of the bottom two.


  • #3
    Pac1Man
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,407 ✭✭✭Pac1Man


    Michael Collins wrote: »
    The first way is right for resistors. Those symbols look more like lamps tho - but the idea is still more or less the same i.e. bottom two lamps connected in series, top lamp is in parallel with the resulting series combination of the bottom two.

    Thanks, my brain just went a bit blank on that one! Cheers


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