AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism 11.6 Kirchhoffs Loop Rule Questions

Use conservation of energy and signed potential changes around closed loops to construct and solve equations for compound direct-current circuits.

Syllabus
Effective Fall 2024
Course
AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism

Exam points

  • translate a chosen loop direction into consistently signed emf rises and resistor drops
  • construct enough independent loop equations to represent a compound direct-current circuit
  • solve loop equations together with current relationships for unknown circuit quantities
  • check a loop-rule result against conservation of energy and the stated circuit conditions

Question 1

[Maximum number: 9]
Figure 1

Figure 1

The circuit shown above is constructed with two 6.0 V batteries and three resistors with the values shown. The currents I1,I2I_{1}, I_{2}, and I3I_{3} in each branch of the circuit are indicated.

Question (a)

(a)

Using Kirchhoff's rules, write, but DO NOT SOLVE, equations that can be used to solve for the current in each resistor.

Calculate the current in the 200Ω200 \Omega resistor.

Calculate the power dissipated by the 200Ω200 \Omega resistor.

Figure 2

Figure 2

The two 6.0 V batteries are replaced with a battery with voltage E\mathcal{E} and a resistor of resistance 50Ω50 \Omega, as shown above. The voltmeter V shows that the voltage across the 200Ω200 \Omega resistor is 4.4 V.

[ 6 ]

Question (b)

(b)

Calculate the voltage E\mathcal{E} of the battery.

[ 3 ]
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