Basic EE question

[cheesepep]

Hello everyone,

I am stumped on this question. I have a circuit as follows:

xxxAxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

xzzzzzzzz xzzzzzzzxzzzzx

xzzzzzzzz xzzzzzzzxzzzzx

Vzzzzzzzz BzzzzzzzCzzzD

xzzzzzzzzzxzzzzzzzxzzzzx

xzzzzzzzzzxzzzzzzzxzzzzx

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Assume the x = wire, and A, B, and C, D are discrete components like a resistor, capacitor and so on. Assume that V is a voltage source, and the Zs are white/empty space.

I know that B is in parallel with C which is in parallel with D. So my question is how would I describe A in relation to the rest of the circuit? Is it in series/parallel with anything else?

edit: Sorry, the formatting is messed up.

 

[benbo]

Hello everyone,
I am stumped on this question. I have a circuit as follows:

xxxAxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

xzzzzzzzz xzzzzzzzxzzzzx

xzzzzzzzz xzzzzzzzxzzzzx

Vzzzzzzzz BzzzzzzzCzzzD

xzzzzzzzzzxzzzzzzzxzzzzx

xzzzzzzzzzxzzzzzzzxzzzzx

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Assume the x = wire, and A, B, and C, D are discrete components like a resistor, capacitor and so on. Assume that V is a voltage source, and the Zs are white/empty space.

I know that B is in parallel with C which is in parallel with D. So my question is how would I describe A in relation to the rest of the circuit? Is it in series/parallel with anything else?

edit: Sorry, the formatting is messed up.

That's a weird way to draw the circuit. But it looks like A is in series with the parallel combination of B, C, and D. I guess that's how I would word it if I wanted to descirbe it to somebody else.

For example, if A, B, C, and D were all resistors you could replace B,C,D with one resistor and have a series combination of two resistors. It's a little more complicated if they are something else.

The question is, what do you want to figure out?

 

[cheesepep]

xxxAxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxzzzzzzzz xzzzzzzzxzzzzx

xzzzzzzzz xzzzzzzzxzzzzx

Vzzzzzzzz BzzzzzzzCzzzD

xzzzzzzzzzxzzzzzzzxzzzzx

xzzzzzzzzzxzzzzzzzxzzzzx

xxxExxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Thanks for your reply. Then how would I say E with respect to A, B, C, D. I am trying to describe this circuit in words to someone without drawing it out. I had to draw it like this on this board to preserve formatting

 

[benbo]

Thanks for your reply. Then how would I say E with respect to A, B, C, D. I am trying to describe this circuit in words to someone without drawing it out. I had to draw it like this on this board to preserve formatting

I think this is what they call a "series-parallel" combination. It's sort of hard to describe in words. A and E are both in series with the parallel combination of B, C, and D, but not in series or parallel with each other.

Maybe somebody else can come up with a better descriptor that I've forgotten.

 

[mudpuppy]

Use a code box and a fixed-width font (Courier New) to preserve formatting.

                 -------A------------------
                 |          |      |      |
                 |          |      |      |
                 |          |      |      |
                 V          B      C      D
                 |          |      |      |
                 |          |      |      |
                 |          |      |      |
                 -------E------------------

"V, A and E are in series with the parallel combination of B, C and D" sounds right to me.

 

[cheesepep]

Use a code box and a fixed-width font (Courier New) to preserve formatting.

                 -------A------------------
                 |          |      |      |
                 |          |      |      |
                 |          |      |      |
                 V          B      C      D
                 |          |      |      |
                 |          |      |      |
                 |          |      |      |
                 -------E------------------

"V, A and E are in series with the parallel combination of B, C and D" sounds right to me.

Thank you. The code box thing is a good idea. However, based on what you said, how would you say that A is on top and B is on the bottom because there are different voltages by them being on separate locations.

 

[Art]

Thank you. The code box thing is a good idea. However, based on what you said, how would you say that A is on top and B is on the bottom because there are different voltages by them being on separate locations.

top and bottom? that is meaningless in EE...it's the 'polarity' that matters...equivilent circuits and all...

and without knowing what they represent, ie, resistors, caps, etc. and the voltage source, ac or dc, there is no way to tell...the voltages could be identical...

if a=e ohms they will be the same...

because I will be the same in each...

and why does it matter?

isn't that the whole reason we have schematics? it's too complex to describe in words, thats's why we have linear algebra

a picture is worth a 1000 wors, give or take