Voltage and Current

Laws

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Voltage Sources in Series
• Voltage sources can be connected in series to increase or
decrease the total voltage applied to a system.

• The total resulting voltage is determined simply by summing the

sources voltage taking into account their polarities.

𝐸𝑇 = 𝐸1 + 𝐸2 + 𝐸3 = 10 + 6 + 2 = 12 V 𝐸𝑇 = 𝐸2 + 𝐸3 − 𝐸1 = 9 + 3 − 4 = 8 V

2
Voltage Sources in Parallel

Voltage sources (such as batteries) can be connected in parallel only if they have
the same voltage values and connected with the same polarities.

The primary reason to connect two or more batteries in parallel is to increase the
total current in the circuit (and, therefore, the power delivered from the sources).

The resulting current of the combination is the sum of the two sources current.
Thus, 𝐼𝑇 = 𝐼1 + 𝐼2
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 Voltage Sources in Parallel
The following cases should be avoided when
connecting voltage sources in parallel:
1. Connecting two (or more) voltage sources with
opposite polarities. This will lead to very large
current passing through the loop between the two
sources. This may damage the voltage sources.
2. Connecting two (or more) voltage sources with
the same polarities but with different voltage
levels. This will lead to some current to pass from
the high voltage source to charge the lower
voltage source. This also leads to large
circulating current between the two sources,
which may damage the voltage sources.

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Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law
• Kirchhoff’s voltage law (KVL) states that the algebraic sum of the
voltage rises and drops around a closed loop is zero.

෍ 𝑉𝑖 = 0

𝐸 − 𝑉1 − 𝑉2 = 0
or, 𝐸 = 𝑉1 + 𝑉2

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 Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law
• Example: Determine the unknown voltage in the following circuit

Solution
Applying KVL in the clockwise direction will result in
𝐸 − 𝑉1 − 𝑉2 − 𝑉3 = 0
𝑉3 = 𝐸 − 𝑉1 − 𝑉2 = 10 − 5 − 2 = 3 V
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 Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law

Find:
a) RT
b) IT
c) Voltage across R2
d) Current in R2
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 Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law
Solution
a) RT = 643 Ω
b) IT = 23 mA
c) V2 = 3.5 V
d) I2 = 17.5 mA

8
 Voltage Divider Rule
The total voltage applied on series resistors will be divided between
these resistors in proportion to their resistance values.

For a number of series resistors 𝑅1 , 𝑅2 , 𝑅3 , … , and

the applied voltage is 𝐸, the voltage across any of
these resistors 𝑅𝑥 is given by

𝑅𝑥
𝑉𝑥 = 𝐸
𝑅𝑇

where, 𝑅𝑇 is the total resistance, which equals the

sum of series resistors values.
𝑅𝑇 = 𝑅1 + 𝑅2 + 𝑅3 + ⋯
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 Example
Determine the voltages 𝑉1 and 𝑉3 using the voltage
divider rule.

Solution

𝑅𝑇 = 𝑅1 + 𝑅2 + 𝑅3 = 1000 + 500 + 4700 = 6200 Ω

𝑅1 1000
𝑉1 = 𝐸 = 45 = 7.26 V
𝑅𝑇 6200
𝑅3 4700
𝑉3 = 𝐸 = 45 = 34.11 V
𝑅𝑇 6200

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 Example
In the following circuit, determine 𝑅2 such that 𝑉2 = 3 V.

Solution

𝑅𝑇 = 𝑅1 + 𝑅2 = 150 + 𝑅2

𝑅2 𝑅2
𝑉2 = 𝐸 =6×
𝑅𝑇 150 + 𝑅2
𝑅2
3=6×
150 + 𝑅2
3 𝑅2
=
6 150 + 𝑅2
150 + 𝑅2 = 2𝑅2
𝑅2 = 150 Ω
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 Example
Determine the voltage 𝑉 ′ across resistors 𝑅1 and 𝑅2 .

Solution
We can consider the two resistors 𝑅1 and 𝑅2 as one
resistor with value= 700 Ω.

So, 𝑅′ = 𝑅1 + 𝑅2 = 200 + 500 = 700 Ω

𝑅𝑇 = 𝑅′ + 𝑅3 = 700 + 800 = 1500 Ω

𝑅 ′ 700
′
𝑉 =𝐸 = 30 × = 14 V
𝑅𝑇 1500

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 Example
Determine the voltage V3 across R3, and the voltage V5 across R5.

Solution

𝑅𝑇 = 1144.44 Ω

𝐼𝑇 = 13.1 mA

𝑉1 = 2.52 V
𝑉2 = 6.55 V

𝑉3 = 5.93 V

𝑉5 = 3.56 V

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