Kirchhoffs laws

(a) First law (junction law) :

In an electrical circuit, the algebraic sum of the current meeting at any junction in
the circuit is zero.
OR
Sum of the currents entering the junction is equal to sum of the currents leaving
the junction
i5
i1
•
i4
 Si = 0 i3
i2
i1 – i2 – i3 – i4 + i5 = 0
or i1 + i5 = i2 + i3 + i4
Note :
This law is based on law of conservation of charge. In other words, when a
steady current flows in a circuit then their is neither accumulation of charge at
point in the circuit nor any charge is removed from there.
(b) Second law (loop law) : It states that in an electric circuit the sum of the
potential drop across different components is equal to zero.
Sign convention

I R
• •
A B VA – VB = + IR
E
• • VA – VB = + E
A B
q, C
• + – • 𝑞
A B VA – VB = +
𝑐
R–C Circuit
When resistance and capacitor are both present in circuit with or without cell,
the circuit is called R-C circuit.
Charging of a Capacitor :
A resistor of resistance R and an uncharged capacitor of capacitance C are
connected in series with a cell of emf E. The switch k is closed at t = 0.
R C

E K
(•)
(a) The current in the circuit at any instant t is given by
𝐸
I (t)= e– t/RC
𝑅
(b) The charge on the capacitor at any time t,
q (t)= CE (1– e– t/RC)
(c) At t = 0,
𝐸
Current I =
𝑅
Which is maximum and charge q = 0
(d) Steady state is reached at t = . Plot of I versus t Plot of q versus t
Steady state current, I q
I (t = ) = 0 E/R CE
and steady state charge
q (t = ) = CE
t t
(e) t = RC is called the time constant, in this time the charge growth to 63 % of its
maximum value and current drops to 37 % of its maximum value.
Discharging of a Capacitor (Decay of Charge) :
A charged capacitor is connected in series with a resistance R. Let q0 be the charge on
the capacitor at t = 0
R
+C–
q0

(•)
(a) The current in the circuit at any instant t is given
K by
𝑞0
I= e–t/RC
𝑅𝐶
(b) The charge on the capacitor at any instant t is
q = q0 e–t/RC
 𝑞0
(c) at t = 0, I (t = 0) =
𝑅𝐶

which is maximum and charge

q (t = 0) = q0
Plot of I verses t Plot of q verses t
(d) at steady state t = , I (t = ) = 0 q0
I q
q0
RC
and charge, q (t = ) = 0

t t
(e) t = RC is called time constant. (Its dimension is equal to time). In one time
constant the charge an current both drop to 37 % of their respective
maximum values.
Combinations of Cells :
E1 r1 E2 r2 E3 r3

(a) Series Combination : R

(i) Equivalent emf E = E1 + E2 + E3 .........

Note : Direction of emf is taken into consideration.
(ii) Equivalent internal resistance r is given by r = r1 + r2 + r3 .............
𝐸 𝛴𝐸𝑖
(iii) Current, i = =
𝑟+𝑅 𝛴𝑟𝑖 +𝑅
(b) Parallel Combination :
(i) Equivalent internal resistance r is
1 1 1 E1 r1
= + +. . . . . . . .
𝑟 𝑟1 𝑟2
i E2 r2
(ii) Equivalent emf E3 r3
E4 r4

𝐸1 𝐸2 𝐸3 𝐸𝑖
+ + +. . . . . . . . ∑
𝑟1 𝑟2 𝑟3 𝑟𝑖
𝐸= =
1 1 1 1
+ + +. . . . . . . . . ∑
𝑟1 𝑟2 𝑟3 𝑟𝑖
Q. Charge on the plates of 20 mF
capacitor at steady state in the
given circuit is -
20mF 60mF

100mF

80

100V 20
(A) 1.2 mC (B) 12 mC
(C) 24 mC (D) 0.4 mC
[Ex-1, Q.25]
Q. A 1mF capacitor is connected in the
circuit shown below. The e.m.f of the
cell is 2 volts and internal resistance is
0.5 ohm. The resistors R1 and R2 have
values 4 ohm and 1 ohm respectively.
The charge on the capacitor must be -
(A) 2mC E = 2V, r = 0.5

(B) 1mC 1µF R1

(C) 1.33mC R2
(D) Zero
[Ex-1, Q.28]
Q. As in figure shown, if a capacitor C is
charged by connecting it with resistance R,
then energy is given by the battery will be -
C

R
V
1 1
(A) 𝐶𝑉 2 (B) More than 𝐶𝑉 2
2 2
1
(C) Less than 𝐶𝑉 2 (D) Zero
2
 S
Q. In the circuit shown in figure, how does
brightness of the bulb change with time
C
after the switch S is closed ? Assume
that the capacitance and it is initially
uncharged -
Bulb

(A) brightness increases with time and becomes constant

after a certain time
(B) brightness decreases with time and reduces to zero
after some time
(C) brightness increases, becomes constant and then again
increases due to the discharging of capacitor
(D) brightness is constant till the capacitor is fully charged
and then it increases because the whole current is now
available to the bulb
 K 1k
Q. When the key K is pressed at time t = 0
A B
which of the following statements about
1µF 1k
the current I in the resistor AB of the 2V
given circuit is true -

(A) I = 2 mA at all t
(B) I oscillates between 1 mA and 2 mA
(C) I = 1 mA at all t
(D) At t = 0 , I = 2 mA and with time it goes to 1 mA
Q. In fig. shown, when switch S is closed,
what will be the voltage across
capacitor 2 µF and 1 µF capacitor.
(consider steady state condition)
A

6µF 2µF
1µF
20

10
S

20
100V
(A) 20V, 0 (B) 40V, 0
(C) 30V, 0 (D) 10V, 0
Q. In the given circuit, with steady
current, the potential drop
across the capacitor must be -
V R

C
V

2V 2R

(A) V (B) V/2

(C) V/3 (D) 2V/3
Q. The magnitude of saturation
charge on capacitor of capacitance
C is –
C
R2
R1

E R3

𝐶𝐸 𝑅1
(A) CE (B)
𝑅1 +𝑅3
𝐶𝐸 𝑅2 𝐶𝐸 𝑅1
(C) (D)
𝑅1 +𝑅3 𝑅2 +𝑅3
Q. In the circuit shown in figure C1 = 2C2.
Switch S is closed at time t = 0. Let i1 and
i2 be the currents flowing through C1 and
C2 at any time t, then the ratio i1/i2 -

C1 R
R

C2
S
V

(A) is constant
(B) increases with increase in time t
(C) decreases with increase in time t
(D) first increases then decreases
Q. A charged capacitor is allowed
to discharge through a resistor
by closing the key at the instant
t = 0. At the instant t = (In 4) ms,
the reading of the ammeter falls
half the initial value. The
resistance of the ammeter is
equal to - C = 0.5mF
(A) 1 M + –
E
(B) 1 
(C) 2  2
A
(D) 2 M