Basic Laws of Electric Circuits

Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law

Lesson 3
 Basic Laws of Circuits
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law:

• Kirchhoff’s voltage law tells us how to handle voltages in an

electric circuit.

• Kirchhoff’s voltage law(KVL) basically states that the algebraic

sum of the voltages around any closed path (electric circuit) equal
zero.
The secret here, as in Kirchhoff’s current law, is the word
algebraic.
• There are three ways we can apply KVL around a closed path equal zero.
This is similar to what we encountered with Kirchhoff’s current law.

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 Basic Laws of Circuits
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law:
Consideration 1: Sum of the voltage drops around a circuit
equal zero. We first define a drop.

We assume a circuit of the following configuration. Notice that

no current has been assumed for this case, at this point.
_ v2
+
+ +
v1 v4
_ _

_
v3 +
Figure 3.1
2
 Basic Laws of Circuits
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law: Consideration 1.
We define a voltage drop as positive if we enter the positive terminal
and leave the negative terminal.

+ v1 _ Figure 3.2

The drop moving from left to right above is + v1.

_ v1 +
Figure 3.3

The drop moving from left to right above is – v1.

3
 Basic Laws of Circuits
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law: Consider the circuit of Figure 3.4 once
again. If we sum the voltage drops in the clockwise direction around the
circuit starting at point “a” we write:

- v1 – v2 + v4 + v3 = 0 drops in CW direction starting at “a”

_ v2
+
+ +
v1 v4
_ _
“a” •
_
v3 +
Figure 3.4
- v3 – v4 + v2 + v1 = 0 drops in CCW direction starting at “a”
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 Basic Laws of Circuits
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law:
Consideration 2: Sum of the voltage rises around a circuit
equal zero. We first define a rise.

We define a voltage rise in the following diagrams:

_ v1 + Figure 3.5

The voltage rise in moving from left to right above is + v1.

+ v1 _ Figure 3.6

The voltage rise in moving from left to right above is - v1.

5
 Basic Laws of Circuits
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law: Consider the circuit of Figure 3.7 once
again. If we sum the voltage rises in the clockwise direction around the
circuit starting at point “a” we write:
+ v1 + v2 - v4 – v3 = 0 rises in the CW direction starting at “a”
_ v2 +

+ +
v1 v4
_ _
“a” •
_
v3 +
Figure 3.7

+ v3 + v4 – v2 – v1 = 0 rises in the CCW direction starting at “a”

6
 Basic Laws of Circuits
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law:
Consideration 3: Sum of the voltage rises around a circuit
equal the sum of the voltage drops.

Again consider the circuit of Figure 3.1 in which we start at

p
point “a” and move in the CW direction. As we cross elements
1 & 2 we use voltage rise: as we cross elements 4 & 3 we use
voltage drops. This gives the equation,

v1 + v2 = v4 + v3
_ v2
+
2
+ +
v1 1 3 v4
_ _
4
_
7 v3 +
 Basic Laws of Circuits
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law: Comments.

• We note that a positive voltage drop = a negative voltage rise.

• We note that a positive voltage rise = a negative voltage drop.

• We do not need to dwell on the above tongue twisting statements.

• There are similarities in the way we state Kirchhoff’s voltage

and Kirchhoff’s current laws: algebraic sums …

However, one would never say that the sum of the voltages
entering a junction point in a circuit equal to zero.

Likewise, one would never say that the sum of the currents
around a closed path in an electric circuit equal zero.

8
 Basic Laws of Circuits
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law: Further details.
For the circuit of Figure 3.8 there are a number of closed paths.
Three have been selected for discussion.

+ v - - v5 +
2
- - - Path 1
v1 v4 v6
+ + + Path 2
v3
Figure 3.8 - + + v7 -
Multi-path Path 3
Circuit.
+ -
+
v12 v10 v8
+
- -

+ v11 - - v9 +
9
 Basic Laws of Circuits
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law: Further details.

For any given circuit, there are a fixed number of closed paths
that can be taken in writing Kirchhoff’s voltage law and still
have linearly independent equations. We discuss this more, later.

Both the starting point and the direction in which we go around a closed
path in a circuit to write Kirchhoff’s voltage law are arbitrary. However,
one must end the path at the same point from which one started.

Conventionally, in most text, the sum of the voltage drops equal to zero is
normally used in applying Kirchhoff’s voltage law.

10
 Basic Laws of Circuits
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law: Illustration from Figure 3.8.
“b” Using sum of the drops = 0
• + v -
2 - v5 +
- - -
v1 v4 v6 Blue path, starting at “a”
+ + +
v3 - v7 + v10 – v9 + v8 = 0
- + + v7 -
• “a”
Red path, starting at “b”
+ -
+
v8
v12 v10
+ +v2 – v5 – v6 – v8 + v9 – v11
- - – v12 + v1 = 0

+ v11 - - v9 + Yellow path, starting at “b”

+ v2 – v5 – v6 – v7 + v10 – v11
11 - v12 + v1 = 0
 Basic Laws of Circuits
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law: Double subscript notation.

Voltages in circuits are often described using double subscript notation.

Consider the following:

• •
a b

Figure 3.9: Illustrating double subscript notation.

Vab means the potential of point a with respect to point b with

point a assumed to be at the highest (+) potential and point b
at the lower (-) potential.

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 Basic Laws of Circuits
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law: Double subscript notation.
Task: Write Kirchhoff’s voltage law going in the clockwise
direction for the diagram in Figure 3.10.
b a
• •

y
• •x
Figure 3.10: Circuit for illustrating double subscript notation.

Going in the clockwise direction, starting at “b”, using rises;

vab + vxa + vyx + vby = 0

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 Basic Laws of Circuits
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law: Equivalences in voltage notations

The following are equivalent in denoting polarity.

+
a •
v1 = v1 = vab = v1
-
b •

Assumes the upper terminal is positive in all 3 cases

+ v2 -
v2 = - 9 volts means the right hand side
of the element is actually positive.
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 Basic Laws of Circuits
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law: Application.

Given the circuit of Figure 3.11. Find Vad and Vfc.

a 20 V 8V b 10 V c
+ _ _
+
•

•
+
+ _

5V 12 V
_ +

e
f• _
+

•
+ _ d
15 V 30 V

Figure 3.11: Circuit for illustrating KVL.

Using drops = 0; Vad + 30 – 15 – 5 = 0 Vab = - 10 V

15
Vfc – 12 + 30 – 15 = 0 Vfc = - 3 V
 Basic Laws of Electric Circuits
Nodes, Branches, and Loops:

• Before going further in circuit theory, we consider the

structure of electric circuits and the names given to various
member that make up the structure.

• We define an electric circuit as a connection of electrical

devices that form one or more closed paths.

• Electrical devices can include, but are not limited to,

resistors transistors transformers

capacitors logic devices light bulbs
inductors switches batteries

1
 Basic Laws of Electric Circuits
Nodes, Branches, and Loops:
A branch: A branch is a single electrical element or device.

    

Figure 4.1: A circuit with 5 branches.

A node: A node can be defined as a connection point between

two or more branches.
•


•

•
2 Figure 4.2: A circuit with 3 nodes.
 Basic Laws of Electric Circuits
Nodes, Branches, and Loops:

• If we start at any point in a circuit (node), proceed through

connected electric devices back to the point (node) from
which we started, without crossing a node more than one time,
we form a closed-path.

• A loop is a closed-path.

• An independent loop is one that contains at least one element

not contained in another loop.

3
 Basic Laws of Electric Circuits
Nodes, Branches, and Loops:
Consider the circuit shown in Figure 4.3.

+ _

Figure 4.3: A multi-loop circuit

give the number of nodes

give the number of independent loops
give the number of branches
5 verify Eq. 4.1
 Basic Laws of Circuits

Series and Parallel

Series – connected end to end and no other element is connected

at their common node
- carry the same current

Parallel – connected between the same pair of nodes.

- equal voltage across each element
 Basic Laws of Circuits
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law: Single-loop circuits.
We are now in a position to combine Kirchhoff’s voltage and current
Laws to the solution of single loop circuits. We start by developing the
Voltage Divider Rule. Consider the circuit of Figure 3.12.
v = v1 + v2
v2 _
+ v1 = i1R1, v2 = i1R2
R2
then,
+ + v
v _ i1 R1 v1 v = i1(R1 + R2) , and i1 =
_ (R1 + R2)
so,

vR1 *
Figure 3.12: Circuit for developing v1 =
(R1 + R2)
voltage divider rule.
16

* You will be surprised by how much you use this in circuits.

 Basic Laws of Circuits
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law: Single-loop circuits.
Find V1 in the circuit shown in Figure 3.13.

R3 R2
+ V1 Figure 3.13
V _ R1
I

V
I=
( R1 + R2 + R3 )

VR1
V1 =
( R1 + R2 + R3 )
V1 = IR1 , so, we have

17
 Basic Laws of Circuits
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law: Single-loop circuits.
Example 3.1: For the circuit of Figure 3.14, the following is known:
R1 = 4 ohms, R2 = 11 ohms, V = 50 volts, P1 = 16 watts
Find R3.

Solution:

R3 R2
P1 = 16 watts = I2R1, thus,
+
V _ R1
I
I = 2 amps

V = I(R1 + R2 + R3), giving,

Figure 3.14: Circuit for example 3.1.
R1 + R2 + R3 = 25, then solve for R3,

R3 = 25 – 15 = 10 ohms
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 Basic Laws of Circuits
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law: Single-loop circuits.
Example 3.2: For the circuit in Figure 3.15 find I, V1, V2, V3, V4 and the
power supplied by the 10 volt source.
30 V V1 10 V
+
_ "a"
+
_ _
+ •
20 
_ _

V3 15  I 40  V2
+ +
5
_
+
+ _
V4 20 V
Figure 3.15: Circuit for example 3.2.
For convenience, we start at point “a” and sum voltage drops =0 in the
direction of the current I.

+10 – V1 – 30 – V3 + V4 – 20 + V2 = 0 Eq. 3.1

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 Basic Laws of Circuits
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law: Single-loop circuits. Ex. 3.2 cont.
We note that: V1 = - 20I, V2 = 40I, V3 = - 15I, V4 = 5I Eq. 3.2
We substitute the above into Eq. 3.1 to obtain Eq. 3.3 below.

10 + 20I – 30 + 15I + 5I – 20 + 40I = 0 Eq. 3.3

Solving this equation gives, I = 0.5 A.

Using this value of I in Eq. 3.2 gives;

V1 = - 10 V V3 = - 7.5 V

V2 = 20 V V4 = 2.5 V

P10(supplied) = -10I = - 5 W

(We use the minus sign in –10I because the current is entering the + terminal)
20 In this case, power is being absorbed by the 10 volt supply.
 Basic Laws of Circuits
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law: Single-loop circuits, Equivalent Resistance.
Given the circuit of Figure 3.16. We desire to develop an equivalent circuit
as shown in Figure 3.17. Find Vs and Req.
VS1 V1 _
VS3
"a" _ + _
+
•

+
R1
_ + Figure 3.16: Initial circuit for
V3 R2 I R4 V2 development.
+ _
R3
_
+
_
+
V4 VS2

+
VS I Req Figure 3.17: Equivalent circuit
_
for Figure 3.16

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 Basic Laws of Circuits
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law: Single-loop circuits, Equivalent Resistance.
VS1 V1 _
VS3
"a" _ + _
+
•

+
R1
_ +
Figure 3.16: Initial circuit.
V3 R2 I R4 V2
+ _
R3
_
+
_
+
V4 VS2

Starting at point “a”, apply KVL going clockwise, using drops = 0, we have

VS1 + V1 – VS3 + V2 + VS2 + V4 + V3 = 0

or

- VS1 - VS2 + VS3 = I(R1 + R2 + R3 + R4) Eq. 3.4

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 Basic Laws of Circuits
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law: Single-loop circuits, Equivalent Resistance.
Consider again, the circuit of Figure 3.17.

+ Figure 3.17: Equivalent circuit

VS Req
_ I of Figure 3.16.

Writing KVL for this circuit gives;

VS = IReq compared to - VS1 - VS2 + VS3 = I(R1 + R2 + R3 + R4)

Therefore;

VS = - VS1 - VS2 + VS3 ; Req = R1 + R2 + R3 + R4 Eq. 3.5

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 Basic Laws of Circuits
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law: Single-loop circuits, Equivalent Resistance.

We make the following important observations from Eq. 3.5:

• The equivalent source of a single loop circuit can be

obtained by summing the rises around the loop of
the individual sources.

• The equivalent resistance of resistors in series is equal

to the sum of the individual resistors.

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 Basic Laws of Circuits
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law: Single-loop circuits.
Example 3.3: Find the current I in the circuit of Figure 3.18.

10 V 40 V
_ _
+ +
20 
Figure 3.18: Circuit for
15  I 10  example 3.3.

5
_
+

20 V

From the previous discussion we have the following circuit.

50 V
+
I 50  Therefore, I = 1 A
_

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 Basic Laws of Electric Circuits
Single Node Pair Circuits: Current division.
A single node pair circuit is shown in Figure 4.4

+ I2 I1

V
R2 R1
_

Figure 4.4: A circuit with a single node pair.

We would like to determine how the current divides (splits)

in the circuit.

6
 Basic Laws of Electric Circuits
Single Node Pair Circuits: Current division.
I I

+ I2 I1 +

V V Req
R2 R1
_ _

V V V
I = I1 + I 2 = + Eq. 4.2 I= Eq. 4.3
R1 R2 Req

Therefore;

1 1 1 R1 + R2
= + = Eq. 4.4
Req R1 R2 R1R2
7
 Basic Laws of Electric Circuits
Single Node Pair Circuits: Current division.
In general, if we have N resistors in parallel as in Figure 4.5

• • •
Req R1 R2 RN

Figure 4.5: Resistors in parallel.

1 1 1 1
= + +. . . Eq. 4.6
Req R1 R2 RN
9
 Basic Laws of Electric Circuits
Single Node Pair Circuits: Current division.
Back to current division: We can write from Figure 4.4;

V IReq IR2
I1 = = =
R1 R1 R1 + R2

In summary form;

IR2 IR1
I1 = I2 = Eq. 4.7
R1 + R2 R1 + R2

The above tells us how a current I divides when fed into

two resistors in parallel. Important
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 Basic Laws of Electric Circuits
Single Node Pair Circuits: Current division.
In general, if we have N resistors in parallel and we want to
find the current in, say, the jth resistor, as shown in Figure 4.6,

Ij
• • • • • •
Req R1 R2 Rj RN

Figure 4.6: General case for current division.

IReq
Ij = Eq. 4.8
Rj
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 Basic Laws of Electric Circuits
Current Division: Example 4.1
Given the circuit of Figure 4.7. Find the currents I1 and I2
using the current division.

I2 I1

10 A 4 12  Fig 4.7: Circuit for Ex. 4.1.

By direct application of current division:

10(4)
I1 = = 2.5 A
12 + 4

10(12)
I2 = = 7.5 A
12 12 + 4
 Basic Laws of Electric Circuits
Current Division: Example 4.2
Given the circuit of Figure 4.8. Find the currents I1 and I2
using the current division.

7

I2 Figure 4.8: Circuit for Ex. 4.2.

I1

10 A 4 12 

The 7  resistor does not change that the current

toward the 4 and 12 ohm resistors in parallel is 10 A.
Therefore the values of I1 and I2 are the same as in
Example 4.1.

13
 Basic Laws of Electric Circuits
Current Division: Example 4.3

Find the currents I1 and I2 in the circuit of Figure 4.9 using

current division. Also, find the voltage Vx

I 7

I2 I1
+
Figure 4.9: Circuit for Ex. 4.3.
20 V +
_ Vx 4 12 
_

We first find the equivalent resistance seen by the 20 V source.

4(12)
Req = 7 + = 7 + 3 = 10 
12 + 4
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 Basic Laws of Electric Circuits
Current Division: Example 4.3

We can now find current I by,

20 20
I = = = 2A
Req 10

We now find I1 and I2 directly from the current division rule:

2(4)
I1 = = 0.5 A
12 + 4

2(12)
I2 = = 1.5 A
12 + 4

15
 Basic Laws of Electric Circuits
Current Division: Example 4.4
For the circuit of Figure 4.10, find the currents I1, I2, and I3
using the current division rule.

I3 I2 I1
Figure 4.10: Circuit
15 A 10  20  4  for Example 4.4.

(−15)( Req ) (−15)( Req ) ( −15)( Req )

I1 = , I2 = , I3 = ,
4 20 10

1 1 1 1 1 1 1
= + + = + + = 0.25 + 0.05 + 0.1 = 0.4 S
Req R1 R2 R3 4 20 10
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 Basic Laws of Electric Circuits
Current Division: Example 4.4

( −15 )( 2.5 )
I1 = = − 9.375 A
4

(−15)(2.5)
I2 = = − 1.875 A
20

(−15)(2.5)
I3 = = − 3.75 A
10

We notice that I1 + I2 + I3 = - 15 A

as expected.

18
Basic Laws of Circuits

circuits

End of Lesson 3
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law