An electric circuit that includes a voltage source E with an internal resistance r, and a load resistance R is shown in the figure.

An electric circuit that includes a voltage source E with an internal resistance r, and a load resistance R is shown in the figure. Plot the power P as a function of R for 1<R<10 given that E = 12V and r = 2.5. Prove that maximum power transfer will occur when the internal resistance r and load resistance R are equal.

I don't really get what's going on with this problem, our professor didn't give us a figure compare to what is stated in the problem.

Answer 1

[Pat Gipper]

Probably late for your homework assignment. Can you write the equation for the power dissipated in R leaving R as a variable? Don't you remember how to find the minimum or maximum of a function from calculus?