In the circuit shown in Fig. E26.33 all meters are idealized and the batteries have no appreciable internal resistance. Find the reading of the voltmeter with the switch S open. Which point is at a higher potential: a or b?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the components in the circuit: There are two batteries (10.00 V and 30.00 V), three resistors (25.00 Ω, 50.00 Ω, and 5.00 Ω), and a voltmeter V1. The switch S is open, so the 5.00 Ω resistor is not part of the circuit.
2. Determine the potential difference across the voltmeter V1: With the switch S open, the circuit forms a loop with the 10.00 V battery, the 25.00 Ω resistor, and the 50.00 Ω resistor. The 30.00 V battery is in parallel with the voltmeter.
3. Apply Kirchhoff's loop rule to the loop: Start from the negative terminal of the 10.00 V battery, move through the 25.00 Ω resistor, and then through the 50.00 Ω resistor, returning to the positive terminal of the 10.00 V battery. The sum of the potential differences around the loop should be zero.
4. Calculate the current in the loop: Use Ohm's Law (V = IR) to find the current I in the loop. The total resistance in the loop is the sum of the 25.00 Ω and 50.00 Ω resistors.
5. Determine the reading of the voltmeter V1: The voltmeter measures the potential difference between points M and N. Since the 30.00 V battery is in parallel with the voltmeter, the reading of V1 is the potential difference across the 30.00 V battery, which is 30.00 V. Point M is at a higher potential than point N.

Key Concepts

Kirchhoff's Loop Rule

Kirchhoff's Loop Rule states that the sum of the potential differences (voltage) around any closed loop in a circuit must equal zero. This principle is essential for analyzing circuits, as it allows us to calculate unknown voltages or currents by considering the voltage contributions from batteries and resistors within the loop.

Potential Difference

Potential difference, or voltage, is the measure of the work needed to move a charge between two points in an electric field. In circuits, it is the difference in electric potential between two points, which drives current flow. Understanding potential difference is crucial for determining which point in a circuit is at a higher potential.

Ohm's Law

Ohm's Law relates the voltage across a resistor to the current flowing through it and its resistance, expressed as V = IR. This fundamental principle helps in calculating the voltage drop across resistors, which is necessary for applying Kirchhoff's Loop Rule and understanding the behavior of the circuit when the switch is open.