Aim – To verify KCL & KVL using virtual simulation.

Theory:
 
Kirchhoff’s Current Law: This law is also called Kirchhoff's point rule, Kirchhoff's junction rule (or nodal rule), and
Kirchhoff's first rule. It states that, "In any network of conductors, the algebraic sum of currents meeting at a point (or
junction) is zero".

Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law: This law is also called Kirchhoff's second law, Kirchhoff's loop (or mesh) rule, and Kirchhoff's
second rule and states that, "The algebraic sum of all IR drops and EMFs in any closed loop (or mesh) of a network is zero".
 

Here, n is the total number of voltages measured.

Together, Kirchhoff's Voltage and Current Law is a formidable pair of tools useful in analysing electric circuits.
 
Example 1:- Let's take a look at an example circuit, number the points in the circuit for voltage reference:
 

 
If we were to connect a voltmeter between points 2 and 1, red test lead to point 2 and black test lead to point 1, the meter
would register +45 volts. Typically the "+" sign is not shown, but rather implied for positive readings in digital meter
displays. However, for this lesson the polarity of the voltage reading is very important and so positive numbers are shown
explicitly:
 

 
When a voltage is specified with a double subscript (the characters "2-1" in the notation "E2-1"), it means the voltage at the
first point (2) as measured in reference to the second point (1). A voltage specified as "Ecg" would mean the voltage as
indicated by a digital meter with the red test lead on point "c" and the black test lead on point "g": the voltage at "c" in
reference to "g".

If we were to take that same voltmeter and measure the voltage drop across each resistor, stepping around the circuit in a
clockwise direction with the red test lead of our meter on the point ahead and the black test lead on the point behind, we
would obtain the following readings:
 

 
We should already be familiar with the general principle for series circuits stating that individual voltage drops add up to the
total applied voltage, but measuring voltage drops in this manner and paying attention to the polarity (mathematical sign) of
the readings reveals another facet of this principle; that the voltages measured as such all add up to zero:
 

 
This principle is known as Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (discovered in 1847 by Gustav R. Kirchhoff, a German physicist), and it
can be stated as such:
"The algebraic sum of all voltages in a loop must equal zero."
By algebraic, it means accounting for signs (polarities) as well as magnitudes. By loop, it means any path traced from one
point in a circuit around to other points in that circuit, and finally back to the initial point. In the above example the loop was
formed by following the points in this order: 1-2-3-4-1. It doesn't matter which point we start at or which direction we
proceed in tracing the loop; the voltage sum will still equal zero. To demonstrate, we can tally up the voltages in loop 3-2-1-
4-3 of the same circuit:
 

 
This can be easily verified using the simulator to create the above mentioned circuit and measuring the voltages across the
resistances using the voltmeter, in a clockwise direction.

Example 2:-

Let's take a closer look at that last parallel example circuit:

 

Solving the values of voltage and current in this circuit:

 

 
At this point, we know the value of each branch current and the total current in the circuit. We know that the total current in
a parallel circuit must equal the sum of the branch currents, but there's more going on in this circuit than just that. Taking a
look at the currents at each wire junction point (node) in the circuit, we should be able to see something else:
 
  
At each node on the negative "rail" (wire 8-7-6-5) we have current splitting off the main flow to each successive branch
resistor. At each node on the positive "rail" (wire 1-2-3-4) we have current merging together to form the main flow from
each successive branch resistor. This fact should be fairly obvious if you think of the water pipe circuit analogy with every
branch node acting as a "tee" fitting, the water flow splitting or merging with the main piping as it travels from the output of
the water pump toward the return reservoir or sump. If we were to take a closer look at one particular "tee" node, such as
node 3, we see that the current entering the node is equal in magnitude to the current exiting the node:
 

 
From the right and from the bottom, we have two currents entering the wire connection labelled as node 3. To the left, we
have a single current exiting the node equal in magnitude to the sum of the two currents entering. To refer to the plumbing
analogy: so long as there are no leaks in the piping, the flow that enters the fitting must also exit the fitting. This holds true
for any node ("fitting") no matter how many flows enter or exit. Mathematically, we can express this general relationship as;
 

 
Mr. Kirchhoff decided to express it in a slightly different form (though mathematically equivalent), calling it Kirchhoff's
Current Law (KCL):
 

 
Summarised in a phrase, Kirchhoff's Current Law reads as such:
"The algebraic sum of all currents entering and exiting a node must equal zero."
That is, if we assign a mathematical sign (polarity) to each current denoting whether they enter (+) or exit (-) a node, we can
add them together to arrive at a total of zero, which is guaranteed.

Taking our example node (number 3), we can determine the magnitude of the current exiting from the left by setting up a
KCL equation with that current as the unknown value:
 
  

 
... solving for I ...
 

 
The negative (-) sign on the value of 5 milliamps tells us that the current is exiting the node, as opposed to the 2 milliamp
and 3 milliamp currents, which must, were both positive (and therefore entering the node). Whether negative or positive
denotes current entering or exiting is entirely arbitrary, so long as they are opposite signs for opposite directions and we stay
consistent in our notation, KCL will work.
 
Verifying the Kirchhoff’s Current Law using the simulator:

Components:
 
 Resistor: A resistor is a two-terminal electronic component that produces a voltage across its terminals that is
proportional to the electric current flowing through it in accordance with Ohm's law.
 
 Lamp: A lamp is a replaceable component such as an incandescent light bulb, which is designed to produce light
from electricity. These components usually have a base of ceramic, metal, glass or plastic, which makes an electrical
connection in the socket of a light fixture.
 
 Wire: A wire is a single, usually cylindrical, elongated string of metal. Wires are used to bear mechanical loads
and to carry electricity and telecommunications signals. Wire is commonly formed by drawing the metal through a hole in a
die or draw plate.
 
 Switch: In electronics, a switch is an electrical component that can break an electrical circuit, interrupting the
current or diverting it from one conductor to another.
 
 Battery: In electronics, a battery or voltaic cell is a combination of many electrochemical Galvanic cells of
identical type to store chemical energy and to deliver higher voltage or higher current than with single cells.
 
 Voltmeter: A voltmeter is an instrument used for measuring the electrical potential difference between two points
in an electric circuit. Analog voltmeters move a pointer across a scale in proportion to the voltage of the circuit; digital
voltmeters give a numerical display of voltage by use of an analog to digital converter.
 
 Ammeter: An ammeter is a measuring instrument used to measure the electric current in a circuit. Electric
currents are measured in amperes (A), hence the name.
 
 Non-contact ammeter: A type of ammeter that need not be a part of the circuit.
 
Procedure:
 The components are given at the right side on the simulator. They can be dragged and the circuit can be formed as
in the circuit diagram. The colour change in the nodes of the components confirms the connection. By noting the current and
voltages through different branches the law can be verified.     

Observations:
Conclusion – Hence we verified the KCL & KVL.

Post Lab questions-

 

1. A car battery is of 12 V. Eight dry cells of 1.5 V each connected in

series can give 12 V. But such cells are not used in starting a
car.Why?

Ans- To start a car, a very high current is required A car

battery has very low internal resistance, so that it can provide high
current. When eight dry cells are joined in series, the internal
resistance of the combination becomes very high. ... Hence, such
cells cannot be used to start a car.

2. In the following circuit a battery of emf 6 V and internal resistance

0.5 Ω is joined in parallel with another battery of 10 V and
internal resistance 1 Ω. The combination sends a current through
an external resistance 12 Ω. Find the current through each battery.
 
 
Ans-
 Fig(i)

 
 
3. Determine the current in each branch of the network shown in figure
using simulations given for the experiment

Ans - Each branch of the network is assigned an unknown currentto be determined by the
application of Kirchhoff’s rules. To reducethe number of unknowns at the outset, the first rule
of Kirchhoff isused at every junction to assign the unknown current in each branch.

We then have three unknowns I1, I2 and I3 which can be found byapplying the second rule of
Kirchhoff to three different closed loops.

Kirchhoff’s second rule for the closed loop ADCA gives,

10 – 4(I1– I2) + 2(I2 + I3 – I1) – I1 = 0 that is, 7I1– 6I2 – 2I3 = 10 (a)

For the closed loop ABCA, we get

10 – 4I2– 2 (I2 + I3) – I1 = 0that is, I1 + 6I2 + 2I3 =10   (b)

For the closed loop BCDEB, we get

5 – 2 (I2 + I3) – 2 (I2 + I3 – I1) = 0that is, 2I1 – 4I2 – 4I3 = –5   (c)

Equations (a, b, c) are three simultaneous equations in threeunknowns. These can be solved
by the usual method to give;

I1 = 2.5A, I2 = (5/8) A, I3 = (15/8) A

The currents in the various branches of the network are

AB:(5/8) A, CA: (5/2) A, DEB: (15/8) A

AD: (15/8) A, CD: 0 A, BC: (5/2) A

It is easily verified that Kirchhoff’s second rule applied to theremaining closed loops does not
provide any additional independentequation, that is, the above values of currents satisfy the
secondrule for every closed loop of the network. For example, the total voltagedrops over the
closed loop BADEB: (5V) + ((5/8) x 4) V – ((15/8) x 4) V equal to zero, as required by
Kirchhoff’s second rule.
 Fig (ii)