‭Experiment Name‬‭- KCl, Current Divider Rule With Parallel And Ladder Circuit‬

‭Objectives:‬
‭Learn how to connect a parallel circuit on a breadboard.‬
‭Validate the current divider rules.‬
‭Verify Kirchhoff’s current law.‬
‭Verify KCL and KVL in the ladder circuit.‬

‭Apparatus:‬
‭Trainer board‬
‭Resistors (1K, 3.3 KΩ, 4.7 KΩ, 5.6K, 10K)‬
‭Digital Multimeter (DMM)‬
‭Connecting Wire.‬

‭Theory :‬
I‭ n the intriguing realm of electrical circuits, the current divider rule plays a key role in‬
‭determining how current flows through parallel branches. Based on Ohm's Law, this principle‬
‭reveals that while voltage remains constant across each branch, the current can vary.‬
‭ ssentially, the current divider rule shows how the electrical current entering a node gracefully‬
E
‭splits among its branches, enabling us to calculate the exact current in each one‬
‭A parallel circuit with ‘n’ number of resistors and an input voltage source‬
i‭s illustrated below. The goal of the experiment is to find the current through each resistor‬
‭connected in parallel‬
‭ irchhoff's Current Law (KCL)‬‭states that the algebraic sum of currents entering and leaving‬
K
‭a junction (or node) in an electrical circuit is zero.‬
I‭ n simpler terms, it implies that the total current flowing into a junction is equal to the total‬
‭current flowing out of that junction‬

‭5 Circuit Diagram :‬
‭Experimental procedure:‬
‭ he experiment aimed to verify Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL) and the current divider rule‬
T
‭using parallel and ladder circuits. We conducted this experiment systematically, following the‬
‭provided procedures.‬

‭ irst, we checked the color coding in each resistor then determined the resistance of those‬
F
‭resistors. By using the digital multimeter (DMM), we confirmed their resistances and calculated‬
‭the percentage errors compared to their theoretical values. This ensured that our components‬
‭were within acceptable tolerances and would provide accurate experimental results.‬

‭ ext, we assembled Circuit 1 on the trainer board. This circuit included three resistors connected‬
N
‭in series with a 10V power supply. After confirming the connections, we measured the currents‬
‭at different points in the circuit using the DMM by adding the DMM in series connection and‬
‭recorded them in Table 2. We validated KCL by checking that the sum of the currents entering a‬
‭node equaled the sum of the currents leaving that node.‬

‭ or Circuit 2, we constructed a more complex network with both series and parallel‬
F
‭combinations of resistors connected to a 12V supply. We measured the currents through each‬
‭resistor and verified that they adhered to KCL and the current divider rule. Additionally, we used‬
‭the DMM in parallel connection to‬‭measure the voltage drops across each resistor and‬
c‭ onfirmed Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL), ensuring that the sum of voltage drops‬
‭equaled the source voltage.‬

‭ o further validate our experimental setup, we disconnected the power supply and measured the‬
T
‭total load resistance of the circuit, comparing it with the calculated equivalent resistance. We also‬
‭calculated theoretical values for currents and voltages and compared them with experimental‬
‭readings, computing percentage errors to evaluate the accuracy of our measurements.‬

‭Results and Data Analysis‬

‭ he experiment successfully verified Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL), Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law‬
T
‭(KVL), and the Current Divider Rule (CDR) using the given circuits. The measurements of‬
‭current and voltage closely matched theoretical predictions, with minor discrepancies due to‬
‭component tolerances and measurement errors.‬

‭Circuit 1: Parallel Circuit (Current Divider Rule Verification)‬

I‭ n Circuit 1, three resistors (R1 = 3.3 kΩ, R2 = 4.7 kΩ, and R3 = 5.6 kΩ) were connected in‬
‭parallel with a 10V power supply.‬
‭Current Division in Parallel Circuits‬
‭●‬ ‭ he total current (Is) supplied by the source was measured and compared to the sum of‬
T
‭the branch currents (I1, I2, and I3).‬
‭●‬ ‭ sing the Current Divider Rule (CDR), the theoretical current through each resistor was‬
U
‭calculated using the formula:‬
‭Is=4.19‬
‭I1=1.83‬
‭I2=1.28‬
‭I3=1.08‬
‭where Req is the equivalent resistance of the parallel network.‬
‭●‬ ‭ he experimental results showed that resistors with lower resistance drew higher current,‬
T
‭confirming the inverse relationship between resistance and current in parallel circuits.‬
‭●‬ ‭ he sum of individual branch currents almost matched the total supply current,‬
T
‭confirming Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL) at the junction.‬

‭Circuit 2: Combination of Series and Parallel Resistors (KCL & KVL Verification)‬
‭In Circuit 2, a more complex resistor network was built using:‬
‭Series resistors: R1 = 1kΩ, R3 = 4.7kΩ, R5 = 1kΩ, R6 = 1kΩ‬
‭Parallel resistors: R2 = 10kΩ, R4 = 3.3kΩ‬
‭Power supply: 12V‬
‭Voltage Division in Series Circuits‬
‭ he voltage was measured across each series resistor, confirming that the total supply‬
T
‭voltage was divided proportionally among them.‬
‭●‬ ‭Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL) was validated as:‬
‭V total = V R1 + V R2 ||V R4+ V R3 + V R5 + V R6‬
‭=12.05‬
‭ he voltage across each resistor was calculated theoretically and compared with experimental‬
T
‭values, showing close agreement.‬
‭Effect of Resistance on Current‬
 ‭ he measured current values confirmed Ohm’s Law, showing that when resistance‬
T
‭increased, current decreased.‬
‭ he parallel resistors R2 and R4 followed the Current Divider Rule, with current splitting‬
T
‭between them inversely proportional to their resistances.‬

‭Error Analysis‬
‭Minor deviations between theoretical and experimental values were observed due to:‬
‭Resistor Tolerances – Real resistor values differed slightly from their nominal values.‬
‭ ire and Contact Resistance – Additional resistance from wires and connections could have‬
W
‭affected readings.‬
‭Questions:‬
‭1. State the current division rule.‬
‭Answer: Current Division Rule:‬
‭ hen a current flows into a parallel network, it distributes itself among the branches based on‬
W
‭their resistances. The lower the resistance of a branch, the higher the share of the current it‬
‭receives.‬

‭2. State the Kirchhoff’s current law (KCL).‬

‭Answer: Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL):‬
‭ irchhoff’s Current Law states that at any junction in an electrical circuit, the total amount of‬
K
‭current flowing into the junction must be equal to the total current flowing out. This ensures that‬
‭the charge is conserved and does not accumulate at any point.‬

3‭ . With the experimental data, verify Kirchhoff’s voltage law in Circuit 1 within each‬
‭independent closed loop of the circuit.‬
‭Answer: Here,‬
‭Ve= 10 V, Vs= 4.19 V, Vr1= 6.039 V, Vr2= 4.016 V, Vr3= 4.048 V‬
‭For Loop 1 = (10 - 4.19 - 6.039) = -0.229 ≈ 0V‬
‭For Loop 2 = (10 - 4.016 – 6.039) = -.055 ≈ 0V‬
‭For Loop 3 = (10 – 4.048 – 6.039 ) = -.087 ≈ 0V‬
‭So, every loop’s voltage rise = voltage loss. Hence, KVL is verified in every loop.‬

‭4. With the experimental data, verify Kirchhoff’s current law at nodes a and b of circuit 2.‬
‭Answer: According to Kirchhoff’s Current law,‬
‭current entering = current leaving‬
‭So for Node A = 2.58 – 0.98 – 1.63 = -0.03 ≈ 0 mA‬
‭For Node B = 1.63 – 0.62 – 1.01 = 0 mA‬
‭ ence,‬ ‭the‬ ‭total‬ ‭amount‬ ‭of‬ ‭current‬‭flowing‬‭input‬‭and‬‭output‬‭are‬‭equal.‬‭So,‬‭Kirchhoff’s‬‭Current‬
H
‭law is verified.‬
5‭ . Showing all steps, calculate the theoretical values in Table 2. Compare theoretical values to‬
‭your experimental values and explain whether your circuit follows KCL or not.‬
‭Answer: Here,‬
‭Req = 1 + 1 / ((1/R1) + (1/R2) + (1/R3)) = 2.440 kΩ‬
‭Is = Vs/Req = 10/2.440 = 4.11 mA‬
‭I1= (4.7k || 5.6k) x 4.11 mA) / ((4.7k || 5.6k) + 3.3) = 1.78 A‬
‭I2= (3.3k || 5.6k) x 4.11 mA) / ((3.3k || 5.6k) + 4.7) = 1.26 A‬
‭I3= (3.3k || 4.7k) x 4.11 mA) / ((3.3k || 4.7k) + 5.6) = 1.05 A‬
‭Experimental Values,‬
‭I1 = 1.83 mA , I2 = 1.28 mA, I3 = 1.08 mA‬
‭So, % error for I1 = 2.52%‬
‭% error for I2 = 2.15%‬
‭% error for I3 = 0.84%‬
‭ s our experimental value’s error is minimal compared with the theoretical value, So we can say‬
A
‭that our circuit follows KCL.‬

6‭ . Showing all the steps, theoretically calculate Req of circuit 1. Compare with the experimental‬
‭value.‬
‭Answer: Here,‬
‭Req = 1 + 1 / ((1/R1) + (1/R2) + (1/R3)) = 2.440 kΩ‬
‭Experimental Value of Req = 2.440 kΩ‬
‭So, % Error = ((2.440-2.004)/2.440) x 100 = 0%‬
‭7. Calculate all the theoretical values for Table 5. Show all steps.‬
‭Answer: Ve = 12 V‬
‭For Req ,‬
‭R’ = R5 + R6 = 1+1 = 2kΩ‬
‭R’’ = R3 + ((R4 x R’) / (R4 + R’)) = 4.7 + ((3.3 x 2) / (3.3 + 2)) = 5.945 kΩ‬
‭Req = R1 + ((R2 x R’) / (R2 + R’’)) = 1 + ((10 x 5.945) / (1 + 5.945)) = 4.729 kΩ‬
‭Is = 12/4.729 = 2.583 mA‬
‭For R1,‬
‭I1 = 2.538 mA‬
‭V1 = 2.538 x 1 = 2.538V‬
‭For R2,‬
‭V2 = 12 – 2.538 = 9.462 V‬
‭I2 = 9.462/10 = 0.942 mA‬
‭For R3,‬
‭I3 = 2.538 – 0.942 = 1.596 mA‬
‭V2 = 1.596 x 4.7 = 7.482 V‬
‭For R4,‬
‭RT = 1 / ((1/3.3)+(1/(1+1))) = 1.245‬
‭V4 = 1.596 x 1.245 = 1.987 V‬
I‭ 4 = 1.987 / 3.3 = 0.600 mA‬
‭For R5,‬
‭I5 = 1.596 – 0.600 = 0.996mA‬
‭V5 = 0.996 x 1 = 0.996 V‬
‭For R6,‬
‭I6 = 0.996 mA‬
‭V6 = 0.996 x 1 = 0.996 V‬

‭Discussion:‬
‭ rom the experiment we have learned how to verify Kirchhoff’s current law and Kirchhoff’s‬
F
‭Voltage law in a circuit and also how to apply current divider rule in a circuit. We have verified‬
‭KCL, KVL and applied the current divider rule in the above circuits. We have done the‬
‭experiment by using Multisim Software as a result there were very little/no difference between‬
‭the theoretical and experimental values so the percentage errors calculated were zero/negligible.‬
‭We faced a little amount of issue while we were using the components and we learned the right‬
‭way to use those by completing this experiment.‬