Kirchoff’s Laws

Example
• How many nodes, branches & loops?

R1
+
+ Vs Is
R2 R3
-
Vo

-
 Example
• Three nodes

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 voltages around each
loop is zero
– Beginning with one node, add voltages across
each branch in the loop (if you encounter a +
sign first) and subtract voltages (if you
encounter a – sign first)
• Σ voltage drops - Σ voltage rises = 0
• Or Σ voltage drops = Σ voltage rises
 Example
• Kirchoff’s Voltage Law around 1st Loop
A I1 + I1R1 - B
R1
I2 +
+
+ Vs Is
R2 R3
- I2R2 Vo

-
C
-
Assign current variables and directions
Use Ohm’s law to assign voltages and polarities consistent with
passive devices (current enters at the + side)
 Example
• Kirchoff’s Voltage Law around 1st Loop
A I1 + I1R1 - B
R1
I2 +
+
+ Vs Is
R2 R3
- I2R2 Vo

-
C
-
Starting at node A, add the 1st voltage drop: + I1R1
 Example
• Kirchoff’s Voltage Law around 1st Loop
A I1 + I1R1 - B
R1
I2 +
+
+ Vs Is
R2 R3
- I2R2 Vo

-
C
-
Add the voltage drop from B to C through R2: + I1R1 + I2R2
 Example
• Kirchoff’s Voltage Law around 1st Loop
A I1 + I1R1 - B
R1
I2 +
+
+ Vs Is
R2 R3
- I2R2 Vo

-
C
-
Subtract the voltage rise from C to A through Vs: + I1R1 + I2R2 – Vs = 0
Notice that the sign of each term matches the polarity encountered 1st
 Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL)
• The algebraic sum of currents entering a
node is zero
– Add each branch current entering the node and
subtract each branch current leaving the node
• Σ currents in - Σ currents out = 0
• Or Σ currents in = Σ currents out
 Example
• Kirchoff’s Current Law at B
I B
A 1
R1
I2 +
I3
+ Vs Is
R2 R3
-
Vo

C
-
Assign current variables and directions
Add currents in, subtract currents out: I1 – I2 – I3 + Is = 0
 Example Circuit
+ I1∙10Ω - + I3∙6Ω -

+ +
I2∙8Ω I3∙4Ω
- -

Using Ohm’s law, add polarities and

expressions for each resistor voltage
 Example Circuit
+ I1∙10Ω - + I3∙6Ω -

+ +
I2∙8Ω I3∙4Ω
- -

Write 1st Kirchoff’s voltage law equation

-50 v + I1∙10Ω + I2∙8Ω = 0
 Example Circuit
+ I1∙10Ω - + I3∙6Ω -

+ +
I2∙8Ω I3∙4Ω
- -

Write 2nd Kirchoff’s voltage law equation

-I2∙8Ω + I3∙6Ω + I3∙4Ω = 0
or I2 = I3 ∙(6+4)/8 = 1.25 ∙ I3
 Example Circuit
A

Write Kirchoff’s current law equation at A

+I1 – I2 - I3 = 0
 Example Circuit
• We now have 3 equations in 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
-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, I2 = 1.25∙I3
• Substituting into 1st KVL equation:
(1.25 ∙ I3)∙18 Ω + I3 ∙ 10 Ω = 50 volts
Or: I3 ∙ 22.5 Ω + I3 ∙ 10 Ω = 50 volts
Or: I3∙ 32.5 Ω = 50 volts
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
 Superposition Principle

The superposition principle states that the voltage

across (or the current through) an element in a
linear circuit is the algebraic sum of the voltages
across (or currents through) that element due to
each independent source acting alone.

20
Steps in Applying the Superposition Principle

1. Replace all independent sources except one

by their internal resistance.
2. Find the output (voltage or current) due to
the active source.
3. Repeat step 1 for each of the other
independent sources.
4. Find the total output by adding algebraically
all of the results found in steps 1 & 2 above.

21
Example: In the circuit below, find the current i by superposition
 24V

DC

 

DC
12V

3A

   24V

DC

i1 i2
 v1 
v2    

12V DC
12V
  i3 
3A i2 O.C. O.C.
i1 i2 i3

i1  1 i2  2 i3  1
i  i1  i2  i3  1A  2A  1A  2A 22
 Thevenin's Theorem
In many applications we want to find the response to a particular
element which may, at least at the design stage, be variable.

a
Each time the variable element
changes we have to re-analyze the
+
Linear entire circuit. To avoid this we
Variable
Circuit V
R would like to have a technique that
- replaces the linear circuit by
b
something simple that facilitates
the analysis.

A good approach would be to have a simple equivalent circuit to

replace everything in the circuit except for the variable part (the load).
23
 Thevenin's Theorem
Thevenin’s theorem states that a linear two-terminal resistive
circuit can be replaced by an equivalent circuit consisting of a
voltage source VTh in series with a resistor RTh, where VTh is the
open-circuit voltage at the terminals, and RTh is the input or
equivalent resistance at the terminals when the independent
sources are all turned off.

i a i a

RTh
Linear
Circuit RL RL
DC
VTh

b b

Rin Rin 24
 Thevenin's Theorem
Thevenin’s theorem states that the two circuits given below are
equivalent as seen from the load RL that is the same in both cases.

i a i a

RTh
Linear
RL RL
Circuit DC
VTh

b b

Rin Rin

VTh = Thevenin’s voltage = Vab with RL disconnected (= ) = the

open-circuit voltage = VOC
25
 Thevenin's Theorem
i a i a

RTh
Linear
RL RL
Circuit DC
VTh

b b

Rin Rin

RTh = Thevenin’s resistance = the input resistance with all

independent sources turned off (voltage sources replaced by short
circuits and current sources replaced by open circuits). This is the
resistance seen at the terminals ab when all independent sources
are turned off.
26
 Example
VTh 5
 
RTh    2
a
iSC 2.5

2 RTh  2
DC
10V
 vOC  10V  5V  VTh a
22

DC
VTh  5V
b
  a

10 2 10
DC
10V iSC    2.5A
 2
23 4 b
3   a

b 2 2
 RTh  1   2
22

27
b