Activity

06/06/22 SCORE
Date Performed
/20

Activity No. 8
KIRCHHOFF’S LAW

INTRODUCTION

More complicated circuit structure usually cannot be solved by reducing it to simple series and
parallel combinations. A more versatile technique in solving circuit problems is by using
Kirchhoff’s laws. They are stated as follows:

1. Kirchhoff’s Junction Rule: The algebraic sum of all currents at a junction is equal to
zero (with the convention that currents entering the junction are positive and
currents leaving it are negative).

I 0

2. In any closed circuit the algebraic sum of all the voltages around the loop is equal to
zero. Mathematically,

IR 0

The following steps are suggested for simplified solutions to problems.

1. Draw carefully the circuit diagram and label properly the sources and resistors with
their corresponding values.
2. Assign an assumed direction for the currents flowing in each branch by a small arrow.
3. For sources of emf, specify the positive the negative terminals. This will be the basis
for the signs of the voltages.
4. Identify the junctions and loops within the circuit.
5. Apply Kirchhoff’s laws. If a negative value for the current is obtained in the course of
calculation, this will imply that the actual direction of the current is in the opposite
direction to what was assumed. Don’t change the signs of the currents obtained as
you continue with the calculations.

OBJECTIVE:
To verify Kirchhoff’s Laws using a DC source

APPARATUS:

4 pcs. 1.5 V battery 3 resistors(1Ω, 2Ω,3Ω)

1 pc 9.0V battery Multitester
Connectors Switches

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PROCEDURE:

Calculated value:

1. Apply Kirchhoff’s laws to the circuit diagram on Figure 8 and compute for the voltage drop
and the current passing through each resistor. Show all your calculations and fill out Table
8.1.

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Table 8.1
Resistor Calculated Current (A) Calculated Voltage (V)
R1 1.09 1.09
R2 2.454 4.908
R3 1.364 4.092

Simulated value

1. Phet simulation:

https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/circuit-construction-kit-dc-virtual-
lab/latest/circuitconstruction-kit-dc-virtual-lab_en.html
2. Connect the batteries and resistors as shown in Figure 8.

R1=1Ω R3=3Ω

6V + R2=2Ω + 9V
_ _

Figure 8

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3. Close the switches and measure the current and the voltage drop across each resistor.
Enter your results in Table 8.2.

Table 8.2
Resistor Measured Current (A) Measured Voltage (V)
R1 1.09 1.09
R2 2.45 4.91
R3 1.36 4.09

4. Calculate the percentage differences between the measured values of the currents and
those computed by Kirchhoff’s laws.

For Current:
𝐶𝑎𝑙𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡
(𝐴) − 𝑀𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 (𝐴)
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐷𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 = | | 𝑥 100
𝑀𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 (𝐴)

Current 1:
1.09 𝐴 − 1.09 𝐴
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐷𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 = | | 𝑥 100
1.09 𝐴
= 0
Current 2:
2.454 𝐴 − 2.45 𝐴
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐷𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 = | | 𝑥 100
2.45 𝐴
= 0.1633%
Current 3:
1.364 𝐴 − 1.36 𝐴
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐷𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 = | | 𝑥 100
1.36 𝐴
= 0.2941%

For Voltage:
𝐶𝑎𝑙𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒
(𝑉) − 𝑀𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 (𝑉)
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐷𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 = | | 𝑥 100
𝑀𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 (𝑉)

Voltage 1:
1.09 𝑉 − 1.09 𝑉
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐷𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 = | | 𝑥 100
1.09 𝑉
= 0
Voltage 2:
4.908 𝑉 − 4.91 𝑉
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐷𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 = | | 𝑥 100
4.91 𝑉
= 0.04073%
Voltage 3:
4.092 𝑉 − 4.09 𝑉
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐷𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 = | | 𝑥 100
4.09 𝑉
= 0.04890%

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5. Draw a schematic diagram showing the true directions of currents and their
corresponding values.

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