ENG 207B PHYSICS FOR

ENGINEERS B
MODULE 6: DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

OUTLINE

Series and Parallel Combinations

Rules of Potential Difference in circuit elements

Kirchhoff’s Rules

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

SERIES AND PARALLEL COMBINATIONS
SERIES COMBINATION OF RESISTORS
PARALLEL COMBINATION OF RESISTORS
SERIES COMBINATION OF BATTERIES
PARALLEL COMBINATION OF BATTERIES

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

SERIES AND PARALLEL COMBINATIONS

SERIES COMBINATION OF RESISTORS

When resistors are connected in a single
path, they are connected in series.

The two lamps are connected in series and

both of which are connected to the
terminals of the battery.

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

SERIES AND PARALLEL COMBINATIONS

SERIES COMBINATION OF RESISTORS

The circuit shows that there is a single path
for the current to flow to. Therefore,
current is equal throughout the circuit.

The resistors in series from a to c can be

replaced by a single resistor that has the
equivalent resistance from a to c.

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

SERIES AND PARALLEL COMBINATIONS

SERIES COMBINATION OF RESISTORS

𝑅𝑒𝑞 = 𝑅𝑎𝑐 = 𝑅1 + 𝑅2

𝐼𝑇 = 𝐼𝑎𝑐 = 𝐼1 = 𝐼2

𝑉𝑇 = 𝑉𝑎𝑐 = 𝑉1 + 𝑉2

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

SERIES AND PARALLEL COMBINATIONS

VOLTAGE DIVIDER THEOREM

For multiple resistors connected in series:
𝑅𝑖
𝑉𝑖 = 𝑉𝑇 ×
𝑅𝑒𝑞
Where:
𝑉𝑖 – voltage of the ith resistor within the
series connection
𝑅𝑖 – ith resistor within the series
connection
𝑉𝑇 – Total voltage across the series
connection

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

SERIES AND PARALLEL COMBINATIONS

SAMPLE PROBLEM
Calculate the following:
a. Equivalent resistance of the
resistors.
b. Total current in the circuit.
c. Voltages across the each resistor
using Ohm’s Law.

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

SERIES AND PARALLEL COMBINATIONS

SAMPLE PROBLEM
Try solving the voltage across each
resistor using voltage divider theorem.

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

SERIES AND PARALLEL COMBINATIONS

PARALLEL COMBINATION OF RESISTORS

Resistors are connected in a way where they
create separate paths from a junction and
reconnect at another junction, they are
connected in parallel.

The lamps are connected in parallel to the

battery where a pair of terminals of the lamps
are connected in the positive terminal and
the other terminals are at the negative.

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

SERIES AND PARALLEL COMBINATIONS

PARALLEL COMBINATION OF RESISTORS

The circuit shows that the lamps are
connected to the terminals of the battery
indicating that the potential difference across
both lamps are equal.

The resistors in parallel from a to b can be

replaced by a single resistor that has the
equivalent resistance from a to b.

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

SERIES AND PARALLEL COMBINATIONS

PARALLEL COMBINATION OF RESISTORS

1 1 1 1
= = +
𝑅𝑒𝑞 𝑅𝑎𝑏 𝑅1 𝑅2

𝐼𝑇 = 𝐼 = 𝐼1 + 𝐼2

𝑉𝑇 = 𝑉𝑎𝑏 = 𝑉1 = 𝑉2

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

SERIES AND PARALLEL COMBINATIONS

CURRENT DIVIDER THEOREM

For 2 resistors in parallel:
𝑅𝑖+1
𝐼𝑖 = 𝐼𝑇 ×
𝑅𝑖 + 𝑅𝑖+1
Where:
𝐼𝑖 – current of the ith resistor within the
parallel connection
𝑅𝑖+1 – other resistor within the parallel
connection
𝐼𝑇 – Total current flowing to the parallel
connection

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

SERIES AND PARALLEL COMBINATIONS

SAMPLE PROBLEM
If a 1.9291 Ω resistor is connected in
parallel to the 5 Ω resistor , calculate
the following:
a. Equivalent resistance across the
terminals of the battery.
b. Total current in the circuit 𝐼1
c. Currents in the resistors using
Ohm’s Law

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

SERIES AND PARALLEL COMBINATIONS

SAMPLE PROBLEM
Using the total current from the
previous problem, try using current
divider theorem to solve the currents
in each resistor.

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

SERIES AND PARALLEL COMBINATIONS

EXERCISES
1. You need a 45 Ω resistor, but the stockroom has only 20 Ω and 50 Ω
resistors. How can the desired resistance be achieved under these
circumstances? What can you do if you need a 35 Ω resistor?

2. A lightbulb marked “75 W at 120 V” is screwed into a socket at one end of a

long extension cord, in which each of the two conductors has resistance
0.800 Ω. The other end of the extension cord is plugged into a 120-V
outlet. Find the actual power delivered to the lightbulb in this circuit.

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

SERIES AND PARALLEL COMBINATIONS

EXERCISES
3. If the equivalent resistance across a and b is 75 Ω, and the resistors labelled
as “R” have the same value, solve the value of R.

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

SERIES AND PARALLEL COMBINATIONS

EXERCISES
4. Calculate the power delivered to each resistor.

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

SERIES AND PARALLEL COMBINATIONS

EXERCISES
5. Find the potential difference across a and b and the current in the 20 Ω
resistor.

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

SERIES AND PARALLEL COMBINATIONS

EXERCISES
6. Calculate the equivalent resistance across a and b and the current and
voltage across the 9 Ω resistor.

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

SERIES AND PARALLEL COMBINATIONS

SERIES COMBINATION OF BATTERIES WITH SAME POLARITIES

𝑉𝑏𝑎 = ε1 + ε2

𝜀𝑇

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

SERIES AND PARALLEL COMBINATIONS

SAMPLE PROBLEM
Two 1.50-V batteries (with their positive terminals in the same direction) are
inserted in series into a flashlight. One battery has an internal resistance of
0.255 Ω, and the other has an internal resistance of 0.153 Ω. When the switch
is closed, the bulb carries a current of 600 mA. What is the bulb’s resistance?

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

SERIES AND PARALLEL COMBINATIONS

SERIES COMBINATION OF BATTERIES WITH DIFFERENT POLARITIES

If ε1 > ε2 If ε1 < ε2

𝑉𝑏𝑎 = ε1 − ε2 𝑉𝑏𝑎 = ε2 − ε1
𝜀𝑇

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

SERIES AND PARALLEL COMBINATIONS

PARALLEL COMBINATION OF BATTERIES WITH SAME EMF

𝑉𝑏𝑎 = ε1 = ε2

If the emf of batteries connected in

parallel are not equal, Kirchhoff’s
Rules must be used to solve the
circuit. 𝜺𝑇

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

SERIES AND PARALLEL COMBINATIONS

SAMPLE PROBLEM
1. Calculate the total current and
determine its direction in the
circuit by combining the batteries.
2. If the polarity of ε2 is reversed,
repeat number 1.

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

RULES OF POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE IN CIRCUIT
ELEMENTS
PASSIVE ELEMENTS
ACTIVE ELEMENTS

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

RULES OF POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE IN CIRCUIT
ELEMENTS
PASSIVE ELEMENTS

𝑉𝑏𝑎 = −𝐼𝑅 𝑉𝑏𝑎 = 𝐼𝑅

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

RULES OF POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE IN CIRCUIT
ELEMENTS
ACTIVE ELEMENTS

𝑉𝑏𝑎 = ε 𝑉𝑏𝑎 = −ε

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

RULES OF POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE IN CIRCUIT
ELEMENTS
SAMPLE PROBLEM
An automobile battery has an emf of
12.6 V and an internal resistance of
0.080 Ω. The headlights together have
an equivalent resistance of 5.00 Ω.
What is the potential difference
across the headlight bulbs?

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

RULES OF POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE IN CIRCUIT
ELEMENTS
SAMPLE PROBLEM
If a resistor connected in parallel to
the headlights takes up 35 A, calculate
the potential difference across the
headlights.

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

RULES OF POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE IN CIRCUIT
ELEMENTS
EXERCISES
1. A lightbulb marked “75 W at 120 V” is screwed into a socket at one end of a
long extension cord, in which each of the two conductors has resistance
0.800 Ω. The other end of the extension cord is plugged into a 120-V outlet.
Use the potential difference Vab across battery to determine current
a c
flowing through the circuit.

b d
DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B
RULES OF POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE IN CIRCUIT
ELEMENTS
EXERCISES
2. Two 1.50-V batteries are inserted in series into a flashlight. One battery has
an internal resistance of 0.255 Ω, and the other has an internal resistance of
0.153 Ω. When the switch is closed, the bulb carries a current of 600 mA.
Use the potential difference Vab across the two batteries to determine the
value of R.
a b

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

RULES OF POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE IN CIRCUIT
ELEMENTS
EXERCISES
3. Calculate the potential difference across a and b

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

RULES OF POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE IN CIRCUIT
ELEMENTS
EXERCISES
4. If the current 𝐼1 = 3 𝐴, use the potential difference Vab to determine the
value of the current 𝐼2 .

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

KIRCHHOFF’S RULES
JUNCTION RULE
LOOP RULE

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KIRCHHOFF’S RULES

JUNCTION RULE OR KIRCHHOFF’S CURRENT RULE

States that, at any junction, the sum of the currents must equal zero. The rule can also be
stated as the sum of the currents going in a junction should equal the sum of the currents
leaving the junction.

෍ 𝐼𝑖𝑛 = ෍ 𝐼𝑜𝑢𝑡

In cases where both KCR and KVR are to be used to solve the circuit, only “n-1” KCR
equations are to be used. “n” is the number of major junction in the circuit.

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

KIRCHHOFF’S RULES

JUNCTION RULE
KCR @ node a:
𝐼 = 𝐼1 + 𝐼2

KCR @ node b:
𝐼1 + 𝐼2 = 𝐼

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

KIRCHHOFF’S RULES

LOOP RULE OR KIRCHHOFF’S VOLTAGE RULE

States that the sum of the potential differences across all elements around any closed circuit
loop must be zero. It can also be stated that the sum of the voltage rises in a loop should
equal the sum of the voltage drops in the same loop.

෍ 𝑉𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒 = ෍ 𝑉𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝

The number of KVR equations to be used should be equal to the number of unknown
currents in the circuit minus the number of KCR equations.

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

KIRCHHOFF’S RULES

LOOP RULE
KVR @ loop abcda:
𝜀1 − 𝜀2 = 𝐼𝑅1 + 𝐼𝑅2

KVR @ loop adcba:

𝜀2 − 𝜀1 = −𝐼𝑅1 − 𝐼𝑅2

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

KIRCHHOFF’S RULES

SAMPLE PROBLEM
A single-loop circuit contains two
resistors and two batteries (neglect
the internal resistances of the
batteries). Find the current in the
circuit using KVR.

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

KIRCHHOFF’S RULES

SAMPLE PROBLEM
Find the currents 𝐼1 , 𝐼2 , and 𝐼3 in the
circuit using KCR and KVR.

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

KIRCHHOFF’S RULES

EXERCISES
1. The circuit is connected for 2
mins. Determine the current in
each branch of the circuit, the
energy delivered by each battery,
and the energy delivered to each
resistor in joules.

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

KIRCHHOFF’S RULES

EXERCISES
2. Calculate the currents 𝐼1 , 𝐼2 , and
𝐼3 using Kirchhoff’s Rules.

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

KIRCHHOFF’S RULES

EXERCISES
3. Calculate the current and the voltage across each resistor using Kirchhoff’s
Rules

𝐼4

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B

REFERENCES

Serway, R. A., & Jewett, J. W. (2014). Physics for Scientists and Engineers with
Modern Physics (9th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning. Chapter 28 pp. 833-
867

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS ENG 207B Physics for Engineers B