Resistive Circuit Example Solutions

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Microsim's Design Center (PSpice for Windows) Evaluation version 6.0 or WordPerfect Draw were used to create schematics. Microsoft's Paintbrush and Leonardo Haddad Loureiro's Lview were used to edit and convert schematics to .gif format files.

Hints and step-by-step guidance are available in this document. The problems are from or similar to problems from the sources listed below which also have many additional practice problems.


#1 (an operational amplifier circuit with DC source)

#2 (maximum power)

#3 (two independent sources)

#4 (an independent and a dependent source)

#5 (equivalent resistance)

#6 (voltage divider, no-load and with load)

#7 (multi-loop, multi-node circuit: USE PSPICE !)

#8 (current divider with resistor in series with current source)



#1 (an operational amplifier circuit with DC source)

#1. Following the passive sign convention, assign each resistor (element) voltage with polarity and each resistor (element) element current with direction. Compute and list the numerical value of each of these voltages and currents. Also compute the numerical value of Vo as defined in the schematic.

Following the passive sign convention, assign each resistor (element) voltage with polarity and each resistor (element) element current with direction.

It is suggested that you

label V- the node voltage at inverting input
note that there is a negative feedback path and therefore the input terminal voltage difference V+- = 0
note that current into op amp input terminals is zero

Compute and list the numerical value of each of these voltages and currents.


#2 (maximum power)

Determine the value of load resistor that would receive the maximum electrical power and determine the value of that maximum power. The plan is to determine the Thevenin equivalent circuit seen by the load and then set the load resistance equal to the Thevenin Resistance.

One way to determine the Thevenin equivalent circuit seen by the load is to do a source transformation so that there will be combinable resistors.

Combining the parallel resistors, yields 8.57 ohms.

Another source transformation can be done to obtain Thevenin equivalent seen by load.

Since the resulting voltage divider consists of two equal value resistors, half of the Thevenin voltage appears across the load. The electrical power (load current times load voltage) into the load is ((22.9 V / 2)/8.57 ohms)(22.9 V / 2) = 15.2 W.


#3 (two independent sources)

Write an equation that expresses the node voltage V2 in terms of the independent source parameters.

CircuitTutor does this problem as a superposition example.

Since only one supermesh KVL is required, that is a possibility.

Since there is only one KCL required with node analysis that is a good method.

Result is V2 = (((90 ohm)Ix + Vx)/2)


#4 (an independent and a dependent source)

Determine the numerical value of V1 as defined in the schematic.

Node analysis requires only one KCL. Assign element voltages and currents according to the passive sign convention.

The top-most node is 6 V less positive than the bottom-most node.

The voltage divider formula may be used to infer the numerical value V1 = - 2V.


#5 (equivalent resistance)

Determine the equivalent resistance for each connection shown.

In the first circuit, the 18 k, 22 k and 27 k are in parallel and may be combined into a 7.24 k ohm resistor. The 15 k is in series with this combined parallel resistance. The complete equivalent resistance is(15 k + 7.24 k) = 22.2 k ohms.

In the second circuit, the same curent passes through all resistors so these series resistances may be added to yield 82 k ohms.

You may want to practice using the Novanet equivalent resistance drill (circanal)


#6 (voltage divider, no-load and with load)

Assume the voltmeter is ideal and has no current flowing through it, determine Vo. Determine the value of Vo if the voltmeter has an equivalent resistance of 10 MW. Write a sentence describing how you could infer the true no-load voltage from the voltmeter indication knowing the voltmeter equivalent resistance.

Assume the voltmeter is ideal and has no current flowing through it, determine Vo. It is suggested that you redraw circuit with just the independent source and the 1.5 M ohm and 2.2 M ohm resistors. Voltage divider analysis yields Vo = 59.5 V.

Determine the value of Vo if the voltmeter has an equivalent resistance of 10 M ohm. A 1.8 M ohm resistance results from the parallel combination of 10 M ohm and 2.2 M ohm. Voltage divider analysis yields Vo = 54.6 V.

Write a sentence describing how you could infer the true no-load voltage from the voltmeter indication knowing the voltmeter equivalent resistance. From the indication and equivalent resistance, you can infer the curent in the meter. This is the current flowing through R1 but not through R2. One more piece of information is needed to infer the true no-load voltage from the voltmeter indication knowing the voltmeter equivalent resistance.


#7 (multi-loop, multi-node circuit: USE PSPICE !)

Draw the schematic diagram for Thevenin equivalent with respect to terminals a and b. Your sketch should include numerical values with polarity indicated. Label terminals a and b in your schematic.

In the interest of time, it is suggested that you use PSpice.

Since the open circuit voltage is the voltage at node a with respect to node b, node b is chosen as ground or node zero for PSpice. The output node voltage at node a will be the Thevenin open circuit voltage. To sense current that controls the dependent source, a dummy (zero-voltage) independent DC voltage source is inserted in the circuit .

 ****     CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION


V1  1  0  0.1
R1  1  2  4K
R2  2  0  21K
VDUM   2  3  0
R3  3  4  1.5K
R4  4  0  600
R5  4  5  20K
R6  5  0  700
F1  5  4  VDUM  40
.TF V(5) V1
.END 

The Thevenin open circuit voltage is listed as the node voltage at the node previously specified as output.

The Thevenin equivalent resistance is listed as the output resistance at the node previously specified as output.

The Thevenin equivalent circuit is


#8 (current divider with resistor in series with current source)

Determine the numerical values of Vx, Vy and Vz as defined in the schematic.

Consistent with the passive sign convention, assign element currents and draw conventional current direction arrows.

Since two rightmost resistors have same voltage (parallel), they can be combined into a single resistor. Redraw the circuit maintaining the identity of Vx, Vy and Vz.



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