IPhO 1967 · Theory problem 2

Resistance of an infinite resistor network

Consider an infinite network consisting of resistors (resistance of each of them is \(r\)) shown in Fig. 3. Find the resultant resistance \(R_{AB}\) between points A and B.

Figure 1

Fig. 3

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

  • Problem 2: \(\displaystyle \boxed{R_{AB}=\frac{1+\sqrt5}{2}\,r\approx1.618\,r}\).

Solution

Treat the connecting wires as having negligible resistance and each resistor as an ideal ohmic resistor with \(r>0\).

Let \(R=R_{AB}\). Current entering at A must first pass through the first horizontal resistor, of resistance \(r\). At the following junction, there are two paths to the lower wire connected to B:

  • The first vertical resistor, of resistance \(r\).
  • The entire remaining ladder, which has exactly the same structure as the original network and therefore has resistance \(R\).

These two paths are in parallel, and their equivalent resistance is in series with the first horizontal resistor. The series and parallel resistance laws therefore give \[ R=r+\left(\frac1r+\frac1R\right)^{-1} =r+\frac{rR}{r+R}. \] Multiplying by \(r+R\) and rearranging, \[ R(r+R)=r(r+R)+rR, \] \[ R^2-rR-r^2=0. \] Thus \[ R=\frac{r\pm\sqrt{r^2+4r^2}}{2} =\frac{1\pm\sqrt5}{2}\,r. \] The negative root is inadmissible for a network of positive resistances, leaving \[ \boxed{R_{AB}=\frac{1+\sqrt5}{2}\,r\approx1.618\,r}. \]

To justify taking an infinite ladder, let \(R_n\) denote the resistance of a finite ladder ending after its \(n\)th vertical resistor. Then \[ R_1=2r,\qquad R_{n+1}=r+\frac{rR_n}{r+R_n}. \] Here \(R_2=5r/3<R_1\). Since the right-hand side is an increasing function of \(R_n\), induction shows that \(R_{n+1}<R_n\) for every \(n\). Also, \(R_n>r\), because the first horizontal resistor is in series with a positive resistance. Hence \(R_n\) converges, and its limit satisfies the equation solved above.

The solution was checked against the official solution.