Potential -- Find the potential at node 3

[Rectifier]

The problem
What is the potential at node 3, if the potential at node 1 is 0?

The attempt
If I start at node 1 and move towards node 3
1->2
-5V
2->3
+(-3V)
1->3
-5+(-3)=-8V

If I start at node 3 and move towards node 1
3->2
-(-3)
2->1
5
3->1
3+5=8V

I am not really sure what is right here.

 

[berkeman]

The problem
What is the potential at node 3, if the potential at node 1 is 0?

The attempt
If I start at node 1 and move towards node 3
1->2
-5V
2->3
+(-3V)
1->3
-5+(-3)=-8V

If I start at node 3 and move towards node 1
3->2
-(-3)
2->1
5
3->1
3+5=8V

I am not really sure what is right here.

The problem looks overconstrained and inconsistent. Where is it from?

And when you go in the direction of - to +, that is an increase in potential. I get 2 different answers for going the 2 different ways from node 1 to node 3...

 

[bennyq]

KVL in the loop, starting at 3..
3->2
-3v(rise)
2->1
-5v(fall)
1->4
-9v(fall)
4->3
17V(rise)
-3-5-9+17=0, so the voltage in the loop adds up.

Now from V3->V2->V1
V3-3-5=0
V3=8V
Now from V3->V4->V1
V3-17+9=0
V3=8V

Seems okay to me?

 

[berkeman]

KVL in the loop, starting at 3..
3->2
-3v(rise)
2->1
-5v(fall)
1->4
-9v(fall)
4->3
17V(rise)
-3-5-9+17=0, so the voltage in the loop adds up.

Now from V3->V2->V1
V3-3-5=0
V3=8V
Now from V3->V4->V1
V3-17+9=0
V3=8V

Seems okay to me?

Ah, I see what fooled me. They labeled the right-hand voltage as negative, instead of relying on the +/- signs to determine the direction of the voltage. That's very non-standard in electronics, but I guess I should have seen that trick part of the question. Thanks for clearing that up!

 

[HalfLostAndSearching]

I would first clarify the context and parameters of the problem. What type of potential are we dealing with (electrical, gravitational, etc.)? Are there any other nodes or sources of potential in the system? Is there any information about the resistance or conductivity of the connections between nodes?

Once these questions are answered, I would approach the problem by using the appropriate equations and principles from the relevant field of study. For example, in electrical circuits, I would use Ohm's law and Kirchhoff's laws to calculate the potential at node 3. Without this information, I cannot provide a definitive answer to the problem.

However, based on the given attempt, it seems that the potential at node 3 is -8V if we start at node 1 and move towards node 3, and +8V if we start at node 3 and move towards node 1. This is because the potential difference between nodes is equal to the sum of individual potential differences along the path. Again, this is a rough estimation without knowing the specific details of the problem.

In summary, as a scientist, I would need more information and context to accurately determine the potential at node 3. Without it, I can only provide a general explanation of how potential is calculated and a rough estimation based on the given attempt.