Experiment 6: Multiloop Circuits: Kirchoff’s Rules

Iziz De La Cruz

Danielle Gonzalez

Esmeralda Sandoval

Jacob Pfaffinger

PHYS 1102 2L3

Spring 2020

Dr. A.J. Hinojosa

March 9, 2020
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____ out of 3 I. Purpose

In this experiment, we will investigate and verify Kirchoff’s rules in analyzing multiloop

circuits. The purpose is for students to distinguish between circuit branches and junctions, apply

Kirchoff’s rules to multiloop circuits, and to explain how Kirchoff’s rules are related to the

conservation of change and energy.

____ out of 20 II. Theory

A junction is a point in a circuit at which three or more connecting wires are joined together. A

branch is a path connecting two junctions and may contain one or two more elements. A loop is a

closed path of two or more branches. When incorporating Kirchoff’s rules, it is important to note

that these rules do not represent any new physical principles. Instead, they represent two

fundamental conservation laws: conservation of electrical charge and conservation of energy.

The conservation of electrical charge states that charge cannot “pile up” or “vanish” at a junction

and can be written as: I1 – I2 – I3 = 0 . Since we are not able to tell whether a current flow in or

out of a junction by simply looking at it, we can verify through using applied math, where

Kirchoff’s first rule of junction comes in: the algebraic sum of the currents at any junction is

zero. For a simple single loop circuit, the conservation of energy in a voltage “drop” across the

resistor must be equal to the voltage “rise” of the battery; Vbattery = Vresistor where the voltage drop

across the resistor is by Ohm’s Law equal to IR. Conservation of energy is describes that the

energy delivered by the battery to the circuit is the same as that expended in resistances.

Kirchoff’s second rule implies that the algebraic sum of the voltage changes around a closed

loop is zero. Since it is possible to go around a circuit loop in a clockwise or counterclockwise

direction, there must be an established sign convention for voltage changes. The voltage change
of a battery will be positive when the direction is traversed in the positive terminal, and negative

if the battery is traversed in the direction of the negative terminal. The voltage change across a

resistor involves the direction of the assigned current through the resistor and the voltage change

is negative when the resistor is traversed in direction of the assigned branch current and positive

if traversed in the opposite direction. Kirchoff’s rules can be used in circuit analysis in several

ways. In this experiment we will consider a two loop and three loop circuits.

____ out of 2 III. Equipment

 Ammeter (0 to 10/100/1000 mA)

 Voltmeter (0 to 5/25 V)

 Two batteries or voltage supplies (6 V and 12 V)

 Two single pole, single throw switches

 Composition resistors, 2-W rating ( 100 , 150 , 220 , 330 , 470 , 680 , 1000 ,

 Connecting wires

____ out of 20 IV. Procedure

Begin by examining the resistors. Be sure to follow the correct color code. Next, connect the

two-loop circuit and leave the switches open until the circuit has been checked by the instructor.

Once checked, close the switches and measure the “operating” value of each battery (V1 and V2)

by temporarily connecting the voltmeter across it. Record these values. Then, temporarily open

the switches, insert the ammeter in series with one of the branches. Close the switches and

measure/record the branch current, then open the switches. Repeat this procedure for each of the

branches. Now, calculate the theoretical values of each branch current for this circuit. Be sure to

use the measured values of the batteries and the labeled values of the resistors. Compare the
measured values of the branch currents with the calculated theoretical values by finding percent

error. Lastly, connect the three-loop circuit and repeat procedures 3 to 6.

____ out of 25 V. Data

R1 = 470 

R2 = 680 

R3 = 1000 ,

Data Table 1: investigate Kirchoff’s rules by means of a two-loop circuit

Measured value Theoretical value Percent yield

V1 6V
V2 12V
I1 .0012 A .0013 A 7.69%
I2 .0066 A .00661 A 0.15%
I3 .0078 A .00792 A 1.52%

____ out of 20 VI. Results

Our highest percent yield was for I1 at 7.69% respectively, this could have been due to us having

to switch between settings while using the voltmeter or an unproper notation of the values. Our

lowest and most successful percent yield was observed for I2 at 0.15% respectively. If we were to

perform the experiment once more, we would try to calibrate our voltmeter beforehand in order

to have all of our percent yield calculation under 2%.

____ out of 10 VII. Conclusion

In conclusion, our group performed a rapid but efficient two loop circuit by obtaining successful

percent yields across all current values. The group was able to apply Kirchoff’s rules and
distinguished between circuit branches and junctions. We applied the rules to multiloop circuits

and saw how they were related to the conservation of change and energy.