basic electrical, resistors

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Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Discription: General Mobile Electronics Questions and Answers
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=105203
Printed Date: May 03, 2025 at 4:45 AM

Topic: basic electrical, resistors

Posted By: astrikrace
Subject: basic electrical, resistors
Date Posted: June 02, 2008 at 6:24 PM

I got into and argument with my Professor at my comunity college. Talking about a parallel circuit with two legs, one leg has a 1 ohm resistor and a 3 ohm resistor and the other leg has two 2 ohm resistors. What is the total resistance and current?

Replies:

Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: June 02, 2008 at 7:45 PM

If the 2 legs have the resistors you mentioned wired in series and then each leg paralleled, the total resistance would be 2 Ohms. Each leg will have identical current going through them.

I can't answer how much current without knowing how much voltage is present.

Posted By: astrikrace
Date Posted: June 03, 2008 at 10:19 AM

Sorry 12 volts and I got a total of 6 amps with 3 amps on each leg. He said the total resistance has to be less than the lowest individual resistor and I told him that it has to be less then the lowest legs resistance. So he said the resistance is .4 with 30 amps. I think I'm ganna just take over and start teaching the class.

Posted By: Big Dog
Date Posted: June 03, 2008 at 10:48 AM

Let's see if I understood.

Is it diagram A or B?

If it's A, then your teacher's right.

If it's neither, draw up a quickie in paint.

posted_image

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Prepare your future. It wasn't the lack of stones that killed the stone age.

Posted By: astrikrace
Date Posted: June 03, 2008 at 11:16 AM

Alright My teachers an idiot. in our work book it is exactly like B. and with 12 volts am I right about the current?

Posted By: Big Dog
Date Posted: June 03, 2008 at 2:34 PM

Ohms law states that:

I=V/R

Thus

I=12/2

I=6 amps

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Prepare your future. It wasn't the lack of stones that killed the stone age.

Posted By: astrikrace
Date Posted: June 04, 2008 at 12:17 AM

Ok yea 6 amps total with 3 amps on each leg, like I said.

Now, How do I approach the teacher in an appropriate way to say " I'm right, and your wrong!"

Posted By: Big Dog
Date Posted: June 04, 2008 at 12:46 PM

Humbly start with, "Can you tell me if I'm doing this correctly." Then, show him on paper how you would solve the problem using what you learned so far and wait for his reaction.

He'll be proud to see your progress and have greater respect for you than if you started with an "I told you so" attitude.

Troubleshooting isn't an ego trip......it's math and logic.

BTW, my definition of a good teacher is someone who eventually becomes useless to his student. (Think about it a minute).

So, it seems like he's doing a good job so far. posted_image

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Prepare your future. It wasn't the lack of stones that killed the stone age.