Dr.

Krishna Chauhan,
Assistant Professor Grade 2
School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
VIT Bhopal University
Topics covered
Voltage and Current division rules
Source Transformation
 Voltage and Current Division Rules

Electric circuits are classified into two main types namely series circuit and parallel
circuit based on the arrangement of components in the circuit.

A series circuit is one in which the components are chain connected, while a parallel
circuit is one in which all the circuit components are connected between two common
points.

Series circuits and parallel circuits act as voltage divider circuits and current divider
circuits, respectively.
 Voltage Division Rule

A series circuit acts as a voltage divider as it divides the total supply voltage into
different voltages across the circuit elements.

Figure shows a voltage divider circuit in which the total supply voltage V has been
divided into voltages VR1 VR2 and VR3 across three resistances R1, R2 and R3. Although,
the current through resistances is same, i.e., I.
 Voltage Division Rule Proof

As current “I” is flowing in the circuit. Therefore,

VR1 = IR1 …….(1)
VR2 = IR2 …….(2)
VR3 = IR3 …….(3)

Since V = VR1 + VR2 + VR3

Therefore,
V = I (R1+ R2+ R3) OR I= V / (R1+ R2+ R3)......(4)

Using (1), (2) , (3) and (4) we can find the voltage distribution across the individual resistance as shown
below.

VR1 = V[ R1 / (R1+ R2+ R3)]

From these equations of voltage division rule, it may be said that
VR2 = V[ R2 / (R1+ R2+ R3)] the voltage across a resistor in a series circuit is equal to the
product of the value of that resistor and the total supply voltage,
VR3 = V[ R3 / (R1+ R2+ R3)] divided by the total resistance of the series resistors.
 Current Division Rule

A parallel circuit acts as a current divider as it divides the total circuit current in its all
branches. Figure shows a current divider circuit in which the total circuit current IT has
been divided into currents IR1 and IR2 in two parallel branches with
resistances R1 and R2. Although, we can notice that the voltage drop across both
resistances is same, i.e., Vs. The Current Divider Rule allows us to calculate the current
flowing through each parallel resistive branch as a percentage of the total current.
 Current Division Rule

As the source or total current equals the sum of the

individual branch currents, then the total current,
IT flowing in the circuit is given by Kirchoffs Current
Law, (KCL) is calculated as follows:
IT = IR1 + IR2……..(1)
As the two resistors are connected in parallel, for
Kirchhoff’s Current Law, (KCL) to hold true it must
therefore follow that the current flowing through
resistor R1 will be equal to:
IR1 = IT – IR2
and the current flowing through resistor R2 will be
equal to:
IR2 = IT – IR1
 Current Division Rule

As the same voltage, (Vs) is present across each

resistive element, we can find the current flowing
through each resistor in terms of this common
voltage as it is simply V = I*R following Ohm’s Law.
So solving for the voltage (V) across the parallel
combination gives us:
𝑅𝑅
Vs=IT(R)=IT( 1 2 )
𝑅1 +𝑅2
As per Ohms law currents across each of the parallel
resistor will be
V V
IR1 = s and IR1 = s
𝑅1 𝑅2
 Current Division Rule

On putting Vs from above equation each will be

given as:

𝑅2
IR1 =IT( )
𝑅1 +𝑅2

𝑅1
IR2 =IT( )
𝑅1 +𝑅2
 Find currents I1 and I2

I1=2mA, I2=4mA, I=6mA

 Source Transformation?

To analyze complex electric circuits, it is often

necessary to transform a voltage source into a current
source and vice versa. This transformation simplifies
the calculation of circuit parameters.
 RS 2 k ! iRL iRL
+ +
VS + RL vRL IS RP RL vRL
– 1k! 2k! 1k!
5V – 2.5 mA –
1
RL
vRL = VS iRL =
RL
I
RL + RS 1
+ RP 1 S
RL
1 kΩ 1
= (5 V) = 1.67 V
1 kΩ + 2 kΩ = 1 kΩ
1 + 1
(2.5 mA) = 1.67mA
1 kΩ 2 kΩ

iRL = 1.67 mA, P = 2.78 mW vRL = 1.67 V, P = 2.78 mW

The series combination seems to behave identically to the parallel
combination. This switch is known as a source transformation.

RS
IS = VS/RS RP
VS IS
RP = RS

RS
V S = ISRP
RP
IS VS
RS = RP
Example 1 R1 25 Ω

Find iR4 in the VS + R2 R3 R4

circuit at right. – 50 Ω 200 Ω 100 Ω
50 V iR4

Use a source transformation

to put everything in parallel. IS R1 R2 R3 R4
2A 25 Ω 50 Ω 200 Ω 100 Ω
IS = VS/R1 = 50 V/25 ! = 2A. iR4

Then use a current divider:

1
R4
iR4 = 1 1 1 1 IS
R1 + R2 + R3 + R4
1
= 100 Ω (2 A) = 0.267 A Easy.
1
25 Ω
+ 1
50 Ω
+ 1
200 Ω
+ 1
100 Ω
Example 2 R1 5 kΩ

Find iR2 in the VS + R2 IS

circuit at right. – 7.5 kΩ
20 V iR2 2 mA

Transform the voltage source / R1 R2

IST IS
resistor combo. 5 kΩ 7.5 kΩ
4 mA iR2 2 mA
IST = VS/R1 = 20 V/5 Ω = 4 mA.

Combine the two current IP R1 R2

sources, IP = IST + IS = 6 mA… 5 kΩ 7.5 kΩ
6 mA iR2
1
R2
iR2 = 1 IP
…and use the current 1
R1 + R2
divider then once again. 1
= 1
7.5 kΩ
1 (6 mA) = 2.4 mA
7.5 kΩ + 5 kΩ
 Example 3
R1 1 kΩ

Find iR1 in the circuit at left.

+ iR1
R2
VS – IS
1 kΩ 15 mA
40 V

Transform IS & R2.

R1 1 kΩ R2 1 kΩ
Writing a KVL loop equation and
solving for iR1 gives
+ iR1 +
VS – – V ST V S —VST
40 V 15 V iR1 =
R1 + R2
40V —15V
This is the correct answer. = = 12.5mA
1kΩ + 1kΩ
 Example 4 1.6 Ω
20 Ω – 60 V R4
R1 + +
VS2 Find vR5 in the
IS R3 R5 vR5 circuit at left.
8Ω
VS1 + 36 A 6Ω –
– R2
120 V 5Ω

Transform two voltage sources to current sources. (Pay attention to polarity.)

1.6 Ω
20 Ω 5Ω R4 +
IST1 R1 IST2 R2 IS R3 R5 vR5
8Ω
6A 12 A 36 A 6Ω –
Example 4 (cont.)
Add the parallel current sources into one. Combine the parallel resistors into one.
1.6 Ω
R4 +
Ieq Req R5 vR5
8Ω
30 A 2.4 Ω –

Ieq = 6A – 12 A + 36 A = 30 A.

Req = 20 Ω ||5 Ω ||6 Ω = 2.4 Ω.

Transform Ieq & Req: Use voltage divider:

2.4 Ω 1.6 Ω R5
vR5 = Veqt
Req + R4 + R5
Req R4 +
8Ω
Veqt + R5 vR5 = (72V)
– 8Ω 2.4Ω + 1.6Ω + 8Ω
72 V –
= 48V
Try this using KCL
Determine all node voltages.