1.

3 Kirchhoffs Laws
Learning Outcomes :
Define nodes, branches, loops Describe Kirchhoffs Law i Kirchhoffs Current Law (KCL) ii Kirchhoffs Voltage Law (KVL) Solve electric circuit problems using Kirchhoffs Laws for 3 unknown Solve circuits using the technique of voltage and current divider

Kirchhoffs Laws

Terminology

Kirchhoffs Current Law

Kirchhoffs Voltage Law

Terminology
Node A point or junction in a circuit where three branches converge or more components are connected
Represents a single element in a circuit such as voltage source or a resistor. It is having two terminals. A closed path in a circuit The voltage between any two specific points of an electrical conductor.

Branch

Loop Voltage drop

Terminology (Example 1)

10V
A

R1

R2

R3

R4

Refers to circuit above, identify number of nodes, branches and loops? Nodes Branches Loops 3 nodes (A, B and C) 5 branches 6 loops

Terminology (Example 2)
How many nodes / loops / branches does the following circuit have?

Terminology (Solution 2)
Nodes :

Terminology (Solution 2)
Branches : Loops :

Kirchhoffs Current Law

Kirchhoff's current law states that the algebraic sum of the currents entering at a node (i.e., any junction of wires) equals the sum of the currents leaving that node.
I1

I2

I3

At a point where three wires are connected as in the diagram above, charge conservation requires that i1 = i2 + i3

Kirchhoffs Current Law

Refer to the figure above, calculate current I3.

Kirchhoffs Current Law

Solution Current entering node : I1 = 2A , I2 = 4A , I4 = 3A , I6 = 5A Current leaving node : I3 = ? , I5 = 6A Using Kirchhoffs Current Law, Current entering node = Current leaving node I1 + I2 + I4 + I6 = I3 + I5 I3 = I1 + I2 + I4 + I6 - I5 =2+4+3+65 =8A

Kirchhoffs Voltage Law

Kirchhoffs Voltage Law states that the algebraic sum of voltage source and voltage drop in a circuit is zero or the sum of voltage drop is equal to the total source voltage

VS VR1 VR2 VR3 =0 or VS = VR1 + VR2 + VR3

Kirchhoffs Voltage Law

Voltage equation

VS VR1 VR2 VR3 = 0 or VS = VR1 + VR2 + VR3

Kirchhoffs Voltage Law

Refer to the figure above, calculate the voltage source VS

Kirchhoffs Voltage Law

Solution Using Kirchhoffs Voltage Law VS VR1 VR2 VR3 = 0 VS = VR1 + VR2 + VR3 =4 + 8 + 6 = 18 V

Kirchhoffs Law
Example:
6
R1 I1 I3 V1 V2

A
I2

12
R2

Loop 1
36 V

R3

Loop 2
72 V

Referring to the circuit above, calculate a. Current I1 , I2 , I3 b. Total power dissipation in the circuit.

Kirchhoffs Law
Solution Kirchhoff current law Current entering node A = Current leaving node A I1 + I2 = I3 (1) Kirchhoff voltage law Loop 1 VR1 + VR3 - V1 = 0 VR1 + VR3 = V1 (2) Loop 2 VR2 + VR3 V2 = 0 VR2 + VR3 = V2 (3)
6
R1 I1 I3 V1 36 V V2

A
I2

12
R2

R3

Loop1

Loop 2
72 V

6
R1 I1 I3 V1 36 V

A
I2

12
R2

Loop 1

R3

V2

Loop 2
72 V

Kirchhoffs Law
Substitute V = I x R into equation (2) and (3) (I1 x R1) + (I3 x R3) = V1 (4) (I2 x R2) + (I3 x R3) = V2 (5) Substitute I3 = I1 + I2 into equation (4) and (5) (I1 x R1) + ( I1 + I2 ) x R3 = V1 (6) (I2 x R2) + ( I1 + I2 ) x R3 = V2 (7) I1 x ( R1+ R3 ) + ( I2 x R3 )= V1 (8) I2 x ( R2+ R3 ) + ( I1 x R3 )= V2 (9)

Substitute R1 = 6 , R2 = 12 and R3 = 4 into equation (8) and (9) 10I1 + 4I2 = 36 (10) 4I1 + 16I2 = 72 (11)

Kirchhoffs Law
Solve equation ( 10) and (11) for the value of I1 , I2 and I3 using Simultaneous Equation 40I1 + 16I2 = 144 (12) 4I1 + 16I2 = 72 36I1 = 72 I1 = 72/36 = 2A Substitute I1 = 2 into equation (11) 4I1 + 16I2 = 72 4(2) + 16I2 = 72 16I2 = 72 - 8 I2 = 64/16 = 4 A I3 = I1 + I2 =2+4=6A

Kirchhoffs Law
Resistor power dissipation PR1 = I12R1 = 22 x 6 = 24 W PR2 = I22R2 = 42 x 12 = 192 W PR3 = I32R3 = 62 x 4 = 144 W Total power dissipation

PT = PR1 + PR2 + PR3 = 24W + 192 W + 144W = 360 W