Network Theory 2 marks Equivalent resistance Numerical answer

Resistance across the body diagonal of a cube of 1-ohm resistors

BlinkNBuild practice problem · GATE standard, authored and verified in-house

Twelve identical $1\ \Omega$ resistors form the twelve edges of a cube. The resistance measured between two diametrically opposite corners (the body diagonal) is ________ $\Omega$.

Show the step-by-step derivation
Answer 0.833 $\Omega$ (i.e. 5/6; accept 0.82 to 0.84) $\Omega$ (i.e. 5/6; accept 0.82 to 0.84)

Step-by-step derivation

  1. Inject a current $I$ into corner $A$ and extract it from the opposite corner $G$. Exploit the symmetry: the three edges leaving $A$ are indistinguishable from one another, so each carries $I/3$.
  2. Those three currents arrive at three "near" corners. From each near corner, two edges lead onward to the three "far" corners. By the same symmetry each of those six middle edges carries half of $I/3$, that is $I/6$.
  3. Each of the three far corners is fed by two middle edges carrying $I/6$ each, so each far corner collects $I/3$, and the three final edges into $G$ each carry $I/3$. Total arriving at $G$ is $3 \times I/3 = I$. ✓ Current is conserved, confirming the distribution.
  4. Now walk one path from $A$ to $G$ and sum the voltage drops, using $V = IR$ with $R = 1\ \Omega$ on every edge: $$V_{AG} = \underbrace{\frac{I}{3}(1)}_{\text{first edge}} + \underbrace{\frac{I}{6}(1)}_{\text{middle edge}} + \underbrace{\frac{I}{3}(1)}_{\text{last edge}}.$$
  5. Add the three terms over a common denominator of $6$: $$V_{AG} = I\left(\frac{2}{6} + \frac{1}{6} + \frac{2}{6}\right) = \frac{5I}{6}.$$
  6. Apply Ohm's law to the whole network: $$R_{eq} = \frac{V_{AG}}{I} = \frac{5}{6} = \mathbf{0.833\ \Omega}.$$
  7. The other two cases, for completeness. Across a face diagonal the answer is $3R/4$; across a single edge it is $7R/12$. All three follow from the same symmetry argument, and all three have appeared in exams.
The trap this question is built around Trying to reduce the cube with series and parallel combinations alone. No two edges are in simple series or parallel here - the symmetry argument (or a star-delta transformation) is the only route. Recognising that is the question.

The idea behind this question

Symmetry turns an awkward network into an easy one. Points that must be at the same voltage can be joined with a wire without changing anything, because no current would flow in it. In the cube, the three corners next to each end of the diagonal are at equal voltage, which reduces the twelve resistors to three groups in series.

Try a variation

What is the resistance of the same cube between the two ends of one edge?

Show the answer

Answer: $0.583\ \Omega$ ($7/12$)

Solving the node equations of the cube gives $7/12\ \Omega$.

Other mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming current splits equally in branches that are not actually symmetric.
  • Using the face-diagonal or edge result, which are different questions with different answers.

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