Lab Report 4

Electric Circuit Analysis - 1

Table of Contents
Abstract ........................................................................................................................................................ 2
Apparatus ..................................................................................................................................................... 2
Objective....................................................................................................................................................... 2
Theory ........................................................................................................................................................... 2
Kirchhoff’s Law .................................................................................................................................... 2
Procedure ....................................................................................................................................... 3

A) Validation of Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law and Voltage Divider Rule .............................................. 3

Readings ............................................................................................................................. 4
Simulated on Proteus.......................................................................................................... 4
Verification & Comparison of Result .................................................................................. 6

B) Validation of Kirchhoff’s Current Law and Current Divider Rule .............................................. 7

Readings ............................................................................................................................. 7
Simulated on Proteus.......................................................................................................... 8
Verification & Comparison of Result .................................................................................. 9

Questions .................................................................................................................................................... 10
Critical Analysis........................................................................................................................................... 11

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Abstract:
Five Resistors of different resistances were used to draw Series and Parallel Circuits on
Breadboard respectively. On Series Circuit Voltage across each resistor were found by Multimeter as a
Voltmeter after applying 5V of Voltage. Theoretically each value of Voltage was calculated by Voltage
Divider Rule. Similarly, parallel circuit was drawn and current across each resistor was measured by
Ammeter and calculated by Current Divider Rule, hence Kirchhoff’s both rules verified by comparison.

Apparatus:
 Resistors
 Digital Multi Meter
 Connecting Wires
 Breadboard
 DC Power Supply

Objective:
 To study the validity of Kirchhoff’s voltage and current laws.
 To study the validity of the voltage and current division principles.

Theory:
Kirchhoff’s Laws

a. Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law

Kirchhoff’s Voltage law states that the algebraic sum of
potential drops around the complete path is equal to zero. It is
based on energy conservation. It means sum of voltage drops
is equal to sum of voltage rise. From Figure,

VAB + VBC + VCD + VDA = 0

Voltage in a closed path

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b. Kirchhoff’s Current Law

Kirchhoff’s Current law states that the current entering the
node is equal to the current leaving the node. It is based on
charge conservation. It means algebraic sum of currents
entering a node is zero. From Figure,

-i1 + i2 + i3 – i4 = 0

Current Entering & Leaving a Node

Procedure:
Validation of Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law and Voltage Divider Rule
1. Used Five resistors of value 100Ω, 848Ω, 504Ω, 179Ω and 1500Ω’s to draw given series circuit on
Breadboard.

2. Applied 5.21V of Voltage from DC Power Supply and used DMM to measure the total voltage output
from resistors and potential drop across each of five resistors.
3. Record Values of table.
4. Using following relation, Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law is verified:

V  V1  V2  V3  V4  V5
5. Potential Drop across each resistor than calculated by Voltage Divider Rule. By calculating sum of
potential drops across each resistor validate the Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law.

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Readings:
Element Voltage across element (V) Calculated Measured Simulated

R1 (Ω) 100 Ω V1 0.166V 0.16V 0.17V

R2(Ω) 848 Ω V2 1.411V 1.39V 1.41V

R3(Ω) 504 Ω V3 0.839V 0.82V 0.84V

R4(Ω) 179 Ω V4 0.298V 0.29V 0.30V

R5(Ω) 1500 Ω V5 2.496V 2.48V 2.50V

Simulated on Proteus:

Voltage Across 100Ω Resistor

Voltage Across 179Ω Resistor

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Voltage Across 504Ω Resistor

Voltage Across 848Ω Resistor

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Voltage Across 1500Ω Resistor

Verification & Comparison of Result:

R1 = 100 Ω R2 = 848 Ω R3 = 504 Ω R4 = 179 Ω R5 = 1500 Ω

Total Theoretical Value Total Measured Value Total Actual Value

Voltage (V) Voltage (V) Voltage (V)

5.21V 5.14V 5.21V

The above table shows the comparison of Calculated, Actual and measured values. Voltage drop across
each resistor theoretically calculated by Voltage Divider Rule and the sum of which is equal to the
applied or actual voltage. The measured Value is 5.14V less than the applied voltage 5.21V is due to the
energy lost while measuring across the resistors. So, to verify the Kirchhoff’s Voltage Rule we use the
following equation:

V1+V2+V3+V4+V5 = V
0.16V + 1.39V + 0.82V + 0.29V + 2.48V = 5.21V
5.14V ≈ 5.21V

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Procedure:
Validation of Kirchhoff’s Current Law and Current Divider Rule
1. Used Five resistors of value 1500Ω, 848Ω and 504Ω to draw given parallel circuit on Breadboard.

2. Applied 5.21V of Voltage from DC Power Supply and used DMM to measure the total current
throughout the circuit and current through each of three resistors.
3. Record Values of table.
4. Using following relation, Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law is verified:

I  I1  I 2  I3
5. Current through each resistor than calculated by Current Divider Rule and also Current throughout
the circuit calculated by finding Equivalent Resistance of three resistors and voltage applied.

Readings:
Current through element (mA) Calculated Measured Simulated
Element
I (through Voltage Source) 19.96mA 19.9mA 20.0mA

R1 (Ω) 1500 Ω I1 3.53mA 3.5mA 3.47mA

R2(Ω) 848 Ω I2 5.93mA 6.2mA 6.14mA

R3(Ω) 504 Ω I3 10.50mA 10.2mA 10.3mA

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Simulated on Proteus:

Current Through 504Ω Resistor

Current Through 848Ω Resistor

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Current Through 1500Ω Resistor

Total Current Through the circuit

Verification & Comparison of Result:

Req = Total Resistance = 2852 Ω

R1 = 1500 Ω R2 = 848 Ω R3 = 504 Ω

Total Theoretical Value Total Measured Value Total Actual Value

Current (mA) Current (mA) Current (mA)

19.96mA 19.9mA 20mA

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The above table shows the comparison of Calculated, Actual and measured values of Current. Current
through each resistor theoretically calculated by Current Divider Rule and the sum of which is equal to
the applied or actual voltage. The measured Value is 19.9mA less than the applied current 20mA is
negligible as the measuring unit is mA and it could be because of measuring instrument and error. So, to
verify the Kirchhoff’s Current Rule we use the following equation:

I1+I2+I3 = I
3.5mA + 6.2mA + 10.2mA = 19.9mA
19.9mA ≈ 20.0mA

Questions:
1. What is path/loop? How many paths/loop are there in following Figure?

Answer:
Path/Loop:
A loop is any closed path in a circuit. A loop usually determines the flow of current in a
closed path. So in above figure there are three loops.

Loop 2

Loop 1

Loop 3

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2. Two resistors R1 and R2 are connected in series. The voltage drop across R1 is larger
than R2. What can we infer about comparative values of the resistances? Is R 1>R2
or R1<R2.
Answer:
We know that current remains same in series circuit while Voltage Drops, So by OHM’s
Law,
V=IR  V= (Same Current) x R
We infer, if the resistance is larger than there will be larger Voltage Drop. So, if the voltage drop
across R1 is greater than voltage drop across R2 than it is obvious that R1 is greater than R2, verified
by OHM’s Law above. So, R1>R2.

Critical Analysis / Conclusion:

Two task were performed to Validate the Kirchhoff’s Law. In the first task, given series circuit
including different resistors were built on Breadboard. Than the voltage applied by DC Power Supply and
after that Voltage across each resister were found. The measured value found by using Multimeter as a
Voltmeter than verified by first Kirchhoff’s voltage law and then by comparing with the actual and
calculated value (found by using Voltage Divider Rule) that was nearly same, it Validates the Kirchhoff’s
Voltage Law. In the next task we used Breadboard again to build a given parallel circuit with three
resistors. As the voltage remains same but current divides through the parallel resistors. We found the
current by Multimeter after applying voltage to circuit. Than we theoretically calculated the values of
current through each resistors and compared the values with the measured and then the measured values
were compared with actual value which proves the Kirchhoff’s Current Law. Thus at the end both task
was validated and Kirchhoff’s law was proved and we found about the Current and Voltage Divider Rule
which happens because of Current and Voltage behaviors across series and parallel circuits.

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