CENTRAL PHILIPPINE UNIVERSITY Laboratory Experiment No.

11
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Eng’g. 1009 – Physics for Engineers
Jaro, Iloilo City, Philippines

Name : Course and Year :

Kenneth John Geocadin
Jayrome Galfo
Ej Gamboa
Kirk Genova
Mae Rhein Pelagio Gano

Group No.: 4 Date Performed :

KIRCHOFF’S LAWS

I. OBJECTIVES

 To ascertain the behavior of current(s) and voltage(s) in complex circuits- as

in loops/ meshes.
 To validate/confirm Kirchoff’s Voltage Law (KVL) and Kirchoff’s Current Law
(KCL) if resistors are in complex circuits.

II. APPARATUS

 1 Digital Multimeter (DMM)

 5 Resistors (1200 Ω, 4.7 kΩ, 5.0 kΩ, 6.8 kΩ, 3.3 kΩ)
 Connecting wires
 1 Trainer Kit

1
 CENTRAL PHILIPPINE UNIVERSITY Laboratory Experiment No. 11
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Eng’g. 1009 – Physics for Engineers
Jaro, Iloilo City, Philippines

III. SET-UP DIAGRAM AND CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

Probes

Analog/Digital Trainer Multimeter or Multitester

SET-UP DIAGRAM

Connecting
Wires

Resistors

2
 CENTRAL PHILIPPINE UNIVERSITY Laboratory Experiment No. 11
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Eng’g. 1009 – Physics for Engineers
Jaro, Iloilo City, Philippines

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

IV. PROCEDURE

1. Draw the schematic diagram of the circuit based on the video.

2. Measure the individual resistances. (note: disconnect the power supply)
3. Connect the power supplies: 5V and 12V.
4. Measure the individual voltage (V’) across each resistor and record.
5. Determine the actual current (I’), through Ohm’s Law, using the measured
voltage (V’) and measured resistance (R’).
6. Compute the theoretical values for V1 to V5 and I1 to I5 using Ohm’s Law, KCL
and KVL. Show a neat and organized solution. Box the final answer.

V. DATA AND COMPUTATION

Table 1. Theoretical and Measured Values

% %
Nomina %
Resistor R’ V V’ I I’ error, error,
l Value* error, I
R V

1 1200 Ω 1.19k Ω 0.5381 V 0.52V 4.4844x10-4A 4.3734x10-4A 0.9167% 3.3618% 2.4752%

2 4700 Ω 4.64k Ω 4.4617 V 4.46V 9.4933x10-4A 9.6121x10-4A 1.2766% 0.0381% 1.2514%
3 5000 Ω 4.91k Ω 2.5045 V 2.50V 5.0089x10-4A 5.0916x10-4A 1.800% 0.7197% 1.6511%
4 6800 Ω 6.69k Ω 6.9666 V 6.94V 1.2045x10-3A 1.0374x10-3A 1.6176% 0.3818% 1.2592%
5 3300 Ω 3.247k Ω 5.0338 V 5.02V 1.5254x10-3A 1.5460x10-3A 1.6061% 0.2741% 1.3505%

Note:
 *Nominal value is the Theoretical value for R.
 R’ is the measured resistance value.
 V is the theoretical voltage across each resistor.
 V’ is the measured voltage value across each resistor.

3
CENTRAL PHILIPPINE UNIVERSITY Laboratory Experiment No. 11
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Eng’g. 1009 – Physics for Engineers
Jaro, Iloilo City, Philippines

 I is the theoretical current passing through each resistor. Calculated using the theoretical
V and R values.
 I’ is the measured current passing through each resistor. Calculated using measured V
and R values.
 % error (R, V, I) shows the deviation between the theoretical values and actual
measurements for the corresponding R, V, and I.

4
CENTRAL PHILIPPINE UNIVERSITY Laboratory Experiment No. 11
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Eng’g. 1009 – Physics for Engineers
Jaro, Iloilo City, Philippines

5
 CENTRAL PHILIPPINE UNIVERSITY Laboratory Experiment No. 11
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Eng’g. 1009 – Physics for Engineers
Jaro, Iloilo City, Philippines

VI. OBSERVATIONS, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS

1. What can you say about the current (I) values across each individual
resistor?

The current values across each resistor go accordingly to Kirchhoff’s

laws. The current values entering a circuits junction is exactly equal to the
total current leaving the same junction, as the current is conserved around
the junction with no loss of current.  For example, the sum of current I1 and
I3 is equivalent to the leaving current I2.
2. What happens to the measured voltage (V) across each individual resistor?

The sum of the measured voltage of each individual resistor in a single

loop is approximately equal to the voltage source. The phenomena follow the
discipline of Kirchhoff’s Law which states that the sum of the voltage source
and the voltage drops across each resistor across in a single closed loop is
equal to zero. The sum of the measured voltage of V1(0.52V) and V2(4.46V)
was approximately equal the to the measured voltage source which is 4.97V
and theoretical value of 5V.

3. Compare the theoretical and measured values for the resistances (R) of each
individual resistor and the corresponding voltage (V) across them.

The values between theoretical and measured are not exactly the
same but their values are near enough to each other. Same goes to the
corresponding voltage across each resistor. One possible factor of this
change in value is the energy loss along the circuit. When a current flow to a
resistor, the energy is wasted, the resistor heats up and some of the energy
goes to the environment. It is a reason why it’s difficult to read the
resistances of each resistor to their exact value and it is why there are
tolerance for every type of resistor. The same also goes for the voltages
across them because a battery or any voltage has its internal resistance.

4. Explain the differences between theoretical and measured values referred to

above?

Measured values refer to the actual results or values given by the experiment
while the theoretical value is a known and accepted value which will serve as your
target value. The value of the two may not be exactly alike but if you do the

6
 CENTRAL PHILIPPINE UNIVERSITY Laboratory Experiment No. 11
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Eng’g. 1009 – Physics for Engineers
Jaro, Iloilo City, Philippines

experiment enough times, the experimental probability will get closer and closer

to the theoretical probability's answer.
5. Compare the voltage of Source 1 to the sum of V1 and V2. Explain.

Kirchhoff's voltage law states that in any complete loop within a

circuit, the sum of all voltages across components which supply electrical
energy must equal the sum of all voltages across the other components in
the same loop. This law is a consequence of both charge conservation and
the conservation of energy. The sum of V1 and V2 which is 4.9998 V is only a
few decimals away from the voltage of the source of 5V. However, if you an
approximate calculation, we can consider the sum of V1 and V2 is equivalent
to the voltage of source.

6. Compare the voltage of Source 2 to the sum of V4 and V5. Explain.

Like the explanation in the item number 5, the sum of the voltage of V4 and
V5 is approximately equal to the voltage source. The sum of V4 and V5 is
equivalent to 12.0004 V while the voltage source of the same loop is 12 V.
We can say that the loop meets the voltage law of Kirchhoff where the
energy is being conserved because the total voltage around the loop is equal
to the sum of all the voltage drops within the same loop.

VII. CONCLUSION

After conducting the experiment, we are able to ascertain the behavior of

currents and voltages in complex circuits and Validate or confirm Kirchhoff’s Voltage
Law and Kirchhoff’s Current Law if resistors are in complex circuits. In conclusion,
in Kirchhoff’s Law, the current entering a circuit junction is equal to the current
leaving the same junction. Also, the algebraic sum of the voltages across each
resistor in the loop is equal to zero. The idea of Kirchhoff Law also applies to the
Law of Conservation of Energy. The results and findings of the experiment validates
Kirchhoff’s Law. Ohm’s Law was also used in finding the theoretical values of the
current on each resistor. This law states that the voltage between two points is
proportional to the resistance of the circuit. Theoretical values are values which are
expected from an equation assuming a perfect condition while measured values are
the calculated values using any measuring tools in an experiment. The reason why
measured values do meet the expected or theoretical values because of some
energy loss in the environment. Though in reality resistor do not have an exact
value of their resistances due to the fact that when the current moves on a circuit
through a resistor, it heats up and waste energy. The same also goes to the voltage
present in the circuit, their values may not be equal but they are highly precise.
Percent errors were approximately close to zero so it is safe to say that there the

7
 CENTRAL PHILIPPINE UNIVERSITY Laboratory Experiment No. 11
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Eng’g. 1009 – Physics for Engineers
Jaro, Iloilo City, Philippines

difference between measured and theoretical value are quite close. As what things
should, perfection is not attainable. However, in this experiment we are able to
witness the use of this principle secondhand and this experience would help achieve
our future endeavors as we go on to our chosen field..