Electricity and Magnetism

PHY121

Dr. Olusegun Adewoyin

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.

Kirchhoff’s Laws
Module 2
Circuit Definitions

• Junction – a junction is a point in a circuit where

two or more conductors meet. It is also called a
node or a branch point

• Branch – It represents a single element in a

circuit such as the resistor, current source,
voltage source etc.

• Loop – a collection of branches that form a

closed conducting path.
Example

• How many junctions, branches & loops?

R1
+

+ Vs Is
R2 R3 Vo
-

-
Example

• Three junctions

R1
+

+ Vs Is
R2 R3 Vo
-

-
Example

• 5 Branches

R1
+

+ Vs Is
R2 R3 Vo
-

-
Example

• Three Loops, if starting at node A

A B
R1
+

+ Vs Is
R2 R3 Vo
-

-
C
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL)

• The algebraic sum of the potential differences

across all the elements around any closed circuit
or loop must be zero.
A statement of Conservation of Energy
• ΣV = 0
• Σ voltage drops - Σ voltage rises = 0

• Or Σ voltage drops = Σ voltage rises

 Conventions for Loop Rule

• The following conventions apply for determining

the sign of delta V across each circuit element.

• The travel direction is the direction that we

choose to proceed around the loop. It may be
clockwise or anti-clockwise.
Procedure for Applying Rules
 Procedure for Applying Rules
• When traveling through a source in the direction
from –ve to +ve, the emf is considered to be
+ve.
• When traveling through a source from +ve to –
ve, the emf source is –ve.
• When travel through a resistor in the same
direction as the assumed current, the IR term is
–ve.
Procedure for Applying Rules Cont’d

• When we travel through a resistor in the

direction opposite to the assumed current, the IR
term is +ve.
Example

• Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law around 1st Loop

I1 + I1R1 -
A B
R1
+
I2 +
+ Vs Is
R2 I2R2 R3 Vo
-

-
-
C
Let us traverse the first loop in a clockwise direction
Example

• Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law around 1st Loop

I1 + I1R1 -
A B
R1
+
I2 +
+ Vs Is
R2 I2R2 R3 Vo
-

-
-
C
Starting at node A, add the 1st voltage drop: - I1R1
Example

• Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law around 1st Loop

I1 + I1R1 -
A B
R1
+
I2 +
+ Vs Is
R2 I2R2 R3 Vo
-

-
-
C
Add the voltage drop from B to C through R2: - I1R1 - I2R2
Example

• Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law around 1st Loop

I1 + I1R1 -
A B
R1
+
I2 +
+ Vs Is
R2 I2R2 R3 Vo
-

-
-
C
Subtract the voltage rise from C to A through Vs: - I1R1 - I2R2 + Vs = 0
Circuit Analysis

• When given a circuit with sources and resistors

having fixed values, you can use Kirchhoff’s two
laws and Ohm’s law to determine all branch
voltages and currents

+ VAB -
A I
7Ω B
+
+
12 v 3Ω
VBC
-
-
C
Circuit Analysis

• By Ohm’s law: VAB = I*7Ω and VBC = I*3Ω

• Assume anti-clockwise direction

+ VAB -
A I
7Ω B
+
+
12 v 3Ω
VBC
-
-
C
• By KVL: VAB + VBC – 12 v = 0

• Substituting: I*7 + I*3 -12 v = 0

• Solving: I = 1.2 A
Circuit Analysis

• Since VAB = I*7Ω and VBC = I*3Ω

• And I = 1.2 A
• So VAB = 8.4 v and VBC = 3.6 v

+ VAB -
A I
7Ω B
+
+
12 v 3Ω
VBC
-
-
C
Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL)

• The algebraic sum of the currents entering any

junction must be equal to the sum of the currents
leaving that junction
• A statement of Conservation of Charge
ΣI = 0
• Σ currents in - Σ currents out = 0

• Or Σ currents in = Σ currents out

Example

Express the currents in junction “a” as an equality.

• Answer: Applying the junction rule, we have that:

• 𝐼1=𝐼2+𝐼3
 Example
If the currents exiting from junction “a” are to be of 2
amps each, what is the value for the current
entering the junction?
• Recall the junction rule for this case:

We know the following values:

• Then, we can solve for current entering the
junction: 𝐼1=𝐼2+𝐼3 and 𝐼2=𝐼3=2 𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑠
• 𝐼1=2+2=4 𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑠
Example

• Kirchhoff’s Current Law at B

I1 B
A
R1
+
I2 I3
+ Vs Is
R2 R3 Vo
-

-
C
The total current flowing in the circuit is given by I1 – I2 – I3 + Is = 0
Circuit Analysis

A
+
+ +
I1 I2
10 A 8Ω 4Ω VAB
- -
-
B
By KVL: - I1∙ 8Ω = 0 (a)
- I2∙ 4Ω + 8.I1 = 0 (b)
Solving: I 2 = 2 ∙ I1
By KCL: 10A = I1 + I2
Substituting: 10A = I1 + 2 ∙ I1 = 3 ∙ I1
So I1 = 3.33 A and I2 = 6.67 A
And VAB = 26.67 volts
 Example Circuit

Solve for the currents through each resistor and the voltages across each resistor?
Assume anti-clockwise direction
Example Circuit

+ I1∙10Ω - + I3∙6Ω -

+ +
I2∙8Ω I3∙4Ω
- -

Traversing the first loop in an anti-clockwise direction

Example Circuit

+ I1∙10Ω - + I3∙6Ω -

+ +
I2∙8Ω I3∙4Ω
- -

Write 1st Kirchhoff’s voltage law equation

-50 v + I1∙10Ω + I2∙8Ω = 0 a
Example Circuit

+ I1∙10Ω - + I3∙6Ω -

+ +
I2∙8Ω I3∙4Ω
- -

Traverse the 2nd loop in an anti-clockwise direction

Write 2nd Kirchoff’s voltage law equation
-I2∙8Ω + I3∙6Ω + I3∙4Ω = 0 b
Example Circuit

Write Kirchhoff’s current law equation at A

I1 = I2 + I3 c
Example Circuit

• We now have 3 equations and 3 unknowns, so

we can solve for the currents through each
resistor, that are used to find the voltage across
each resistor
• Since I1 - I2 - I3 = 0, I1 = I2 + I3
• Substituting into the 1st KVL equation or a
-50 v + (I2 + I3)∙10Ω + I2∙8Ω = 0
or
I2∙18 Ω + I3∙ 10 Ω = 50 volts
Example Circuit

• But from the 2nd KVL equation i.e b, I2 = 1.25∙I3

• Substituting into 1st KVL equation:
(1.25 ∙ I3)∙18 Ω + I3 ∙ 10 Ω = 50
Or: I3 ∙ 22.5 Ω + I3 ∙ 10 Ω = 50
Or: I3∙ 32.5 Ω = 50
Or: I3 = 50 volts/32.5 Ω
Or: I3 = 1.538 amps
Example Circuit

• Since I3 = 1.538 amps

I2 = 1.25∙I3 = 1.923 amps
• Since I1 = I2 + I3,
• I1 = 3.461 amps
• The voltages across the resistors:
I1∙10Ω = 34.61 volts
I2∙8Ω = 15.38 volts
I3∙6Ω = 9.23 volts
I3∙4Ω = 6.15 volts
Assume that current flows in clockwise directions use Kirchhoff’s
theorem to determine I1, I2 and the p.d. across R1 and R2?