Lesson 3.
Equivalent Resistance
3.2 Circuit Analysis involving Series-Parallel Resistors
At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:
1. Solve problems in dc circuits using the equivalent resistance of series-parallel resistors
By reducing the resistive network to its equivalent resistance, we can now easily calculate important
electrical quantities.
Once the circuit has been reduced, the total current can now be calculate using Ohm’s Law.
𝑉𝑠
𝐼𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 =
𝑅𝑒𝑞
Illustrative Examples:
1. Determine the equivalent resistance, and the current flowing in the voltage source (also known as the
total current).
Solution: Label the resistors
𝑅6 , 𝑅7 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑅8 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑅5
𝑅678 = 𝑅6 + 𝑅7 + 𝑅8 = 10 + 20 + 10 = 40 𝑜ℎ𝑚𝑠
𝑅678 𝑅5 (40)(40)
𝑅5678 = = = 20 𝑜ℎ𝑚𝑠
𝑅678 +𝑅5 40 + 40
𝑅5678 , 𝑅3 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑅4 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑅2
𝑅345678 = 𝑅5678 + 𝑅3 + 𝑅4 = 20 + 8 + 12 = 40 𝑜ℎ𝑚𝑠
𝑅345678 𝑅2 (40)(40)
𝑅2345678 = = = 20 𝑜ℎ𝑚𝑠
𝑅345678 + 𝑅2 40 + 40
Therefore, 𝑅𝑒𝑞 = 20 + 20 = 40 𝑜ℎ𝑚s
Solving for the current in the source, we can now apply Ohm’s Law.
12 12 3
𝑖= = = 𝑜𝑟 0.3 𝐴
𝑅𝑒𝑞 40 10
Answer: 𝑖 = 0.3 𝐴
2. Find io and vo in the circuit below. Calculate the power dissipated in the 4-ohm resistor.
Solution: We can calculate the total current in the same way it was calculated from the previous
problem
𝑅2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑅3 𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙 (Note that vo and io will disappear momentarily)
𝑅2 𝑅3 (6)(3)
𝑅23 = = = 2 𝑜ℎ𝑚𝑠
𝑅2 + 𝑅3 6+3
𝑅23 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑅1 𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠
𝑅𝑒𝑞 = 𝑅23 + 𝑅1
𝑅𝑒𝑞 = 2 + 4
Calculate i by Ohm’s Law
12 12
𝑖= = =2𝐴
𝑅𝑒𝑞 6
Refer to the circuit, then calculate the voltage across the R 2.
𝑉𝑅23 = 𝑉𝑅2 = 2𝑖 = 2(2) = 4 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑠
Even if we revert to the original circuit, 𝑉𝑅2 is the same
𝑉𝑅2 = 𝑣𝑜 = 4 𝑉 (parallel elements)
Calculate io by Ohm’s Law,
𝑣𝑜 4
𝑖𝑜 = = 𝑜𝑟 1.333 𝐴
𝑅3 3
3. Find v1 and v2 in the circuit shown. Also calculate i1 and i2 and the power dissipated in the 12-ohm and
40-ohm resistors.
Solution:
First, we can solve for the current coming from the source, then
a. Take the voltage of the parallel combination of 12 ohms and 6 ohms
b. Take the voltage of the parallel combination of 10 ohms and 40 ohms
(12)(6)
𝑅1 = = 4 𝑜ℎ𝑚𝑠
12 + 6
(10)(40)
𝑅2 = = 8 𝑜ℎ𝑚𝑠
10 + 40
𝑅𝑒𝑞 = 𝑅1 + 𝑅2
𝑅𝑒𝑞 = 4 + 8 = 12 𝑜ℎ𝑚𝑠
Current from the source
15 15
𝑖= = = 1.25 𝐴
𝑅𝑒𝑞 12
Now, solve for voltage at R1 and R2
𝑉𝑅1 = 4𝑖 = 4(1.25) = 5 𝑉
𝑉𝑅2 = 8𝑖 = 4(1.25) = 10 𝑉
From the original circuit, v1 is in parallel with VR1, while v2 is in parallel with VR2.
Therefore,
𝑉𝑅1 = 𝑣1 = 5 𝑉
𝑉𝑅2 = 𝑣2 = 10 𝑉
The current i1 and i2 can be solved by Ohm’s Law
𝑣1 5
𝑖1 = = = 0.417 𝐴
12 12
𝑣2 10
𝑖2 = = = 0.250 𝐴
40 40
The power consumed by the resistors
𝑃12 = 𝑣1 𝑖1 = (5)(0.417) = 2.083 𝑊
𝑃40 = 𝑣1 𝑖1 = (10)(0.250) = 2.5 𝑊
4. Solve for the value of R that will satisfy an equivalent of resistance of 50 ohms.
Solution: Simplify as much as possible.
𝑇ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑒 (3) 12 − 𝑜ℎ𝑚𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙
1 1 1 −1
𝑅=( + + ) = 4 𝑜ℎ𝑚𝑠
12 12 12
10 𝑜ℎ𝑚𝑠, 4 𝑜ℎ𝑚𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑅 𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠
14 + 𝑅 𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 60 𝑜ℎ𝑚𝑠
(14 + 𝑅)(60) 840 + 60𝑅
=
(14 + 𝑅) + 60 74 + 𝑅
Therefore,
840 + 60𝑅
𝑅𝑒𝑞 = + 30
74 + 𝑅
𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑅𝑒𝑞 = 50
840 + 60𝑅
50 = + 30
74 + 𝑅
Solve for R
840 + 60𝑅
50 − 30 =
74 + 𝑅
840 + 60𝑅
20 =
74 + 𝑅
(74 + 𝑅)(20) = 840 + 60𝑅
1480 + 20𝑅 = 840 + 60𝑅
−60R + 20𝑅 = 840 − 1480
−40𝑅 = −640
640
𝑅=− = 16 𝑜ℎ𝑚𝑠
−40