Resistor Problem
There's a question on the Google Aptitude Test about resistors:
10. On an infinite, two-dimensional, rectangular lattice of 1-ohm resistors, what is the resistance between two nodes that are a knight's move away?
I don't think that the answer is as complicated as what people are making it, since every node is the same value. Here's what I think the solution is:
A knight's move is a combination of 2 squares in one dimension, and 1 square in the other dimension. So, if you imagine all of these 1-ohm resistors in a grid:
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
then you're trying to find the total resistance from one intersection to another one that is, say, 2 down and 1 to the right (i.e., resistance from A to F):
A-B
! !
C-D
! !
E-F
Despite the fact that this is an infinite grid, all resistors outside of this area will not have any effect on the system between the points A and F.
Breaking down the network:
A-B-D = 2 ohms
A-C-D = 2 ohms
The total resistance from A-D, therefore, is 1 ohm because:
Rt = 1/(1/R1 + 1/R2) = 1/(1/2 + 1/2) = 1/1 = 1
D-F = 1 ohm
So, the total resistance following path of the network A-B-C-D-F is 2 ohms.
But, there is another network in parallel: A-C-D-E-F It's value is also 2-ohms.
In all, going from point A to F is like having two 2-ohm resistors in parallel, which we showed above to be 1 ohm total.
I'll probably build this circuit and take physical measurements, but as I type this, I think that the answer is 1-ohm.
I'd gladly admit defeat if someone who actually studied this in school has a different explanation. ;-)
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