LABORATORY ACTIVITY NO.

2
Kirchhoff’s Laws
I. INTRODUCTION

In 1845, Gustav Kirchhoff, a German physicist introduced two laws that

became prominent to electrical engineering. These are the Kirchhoff’s Current Law
also known as Kirchhoff’s Junction Law or Kirchhoff’s First Law, and Kirchhoff’s
Voltage Law. These laws lie at the heart of circuit analysis and are convenient not
only in calculating current and voltage values in complex circuits but it is also useful
in real life applications. Having an idea of how currents flow through a junction
point and voltages in an electrical loop gives the consumers a better understanding
of how their electrical appliances and devices run.

The first law also known as the Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL) states that
the algebraic sum of the currents entering any node is zero. It can be represented
mathematically as

where 𝑖𝑗(𝑡) is the 𝑗𝑡ℎ current entering the node through branch 𝑗 and 𝑁 is the
number of branches connected to the node. By this law, currents entering a node
are positive and currents leaving a node are negative or vice versa.

Whereas, the second law or the Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL) is concerned
with the distribution of electrical voltage within a loop, or closed conducting path,
of an electrical circuit. This law states that the algebraic sum of all voltage
differences around any closed path is equal to zero. The sign on each voltage is
the polarity of the terminal encountered last in travelling around the loop. It is
also important to note that travelling around a loop requires one uniform
direction – be it clockwise or counterclockwise – all throughout the rotation.
Additionally, since KVL involves values of voltages, when crossing a resistor, the
voltage will be determined using Ohm’s Law:
𝑉 =𝐼∗𝑅
 where I is the value of the current and R is the resistance of the resistor.

OBJECTIVES
In this laboratory experiment, students are expected to better understand
the concept of Kirchhoff’s Voltage and Current Laws using Multisim. Specifically,
it seeks to meet the following objectives:

1. To analyze voltage and current measurements in a DC circuit.

2. To verify the Kirchhoff’s Voltage and Current Laws.
3. To utilize an online circuit simulator to aid in learning about
circuits

MATERIALS
Multisim Live (https://www.multisim.com/)

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

II. Figure 1. Resistive Circuit

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

In order to have a comprehensive analyzation of the voltage and current

measurements of the given resistive circuit, Multisim, an online circuit simulator is
utilized. To start, students are to create the given circuit, shown in Figure 1, on the
blank schematic workspace of Multisim. Upon completing the elements of the
circuit, the values of the voltages can now be measured through attaching voltage
and voltage reference probes. In positioning the voltage probes and its references,
the direction of the flow should be considered so that the value of the voltage will
be positive. This will also serve as the indicator of the polarity of each voltage. For
example, VAB, the voltage probe should be placed at/ near node A and the voltage
reference probe should be placed at/ near node B. After placing all the voltage and
voltage reference probes, proceed with the simulation and record the values in
Table 1. This will be done for the rest of the voltage values asked.

Once Table 1 is complete, the current can now be measured. The first step
is to remove all voltage and voltage reference probes. Then, place the current
probes at their respective positions with the direction indicated in Figure 1. Once
all the probes are properly placed, proceed with the simulation and record all the
values in Table 2. The data in Tables 1 and 2 will now be used to compute for the
data needed for Tables 3 and 4 using the concept of Kirchhoff’s Current and
Voltage Laws. In solving for the sum of the current at each node, the only values
to consider are that of which flows through that specific node. It is also important
to be mindful of their direction whether they are approaching or leaving the node
because it will determine the sign of the value for the nodal analysis. As for the
computation of the voltage around the loop, the direction of the flow should follow
the name of the loop. Having Loop ABCEFA as an example, the flow should be
from node A, to node B, C, E, F, then back to A. The sum of the voltages following
the said direction will be recorded in Table 4. The same procedure will be done to
solve for the voltage around Loop ABCDA.
Upon the completion of all Tables, with the values from Multisim as the
basis, the theoretical values of the current and voltages should also be computed
using Ohm’s Law and some other basic principles in circuit analysis, to solve for
the percentage error. The computation of these values is further elaborated in the
discussion.
III. RESULTS
 Figure 2. Voltage Measurement

Figure 3. Current Measurement

Table 1. Voltage Measurement

VAB VBC VAD VDC VBD VAC

Workbench 5.9459 V 4.0541 V 7.6744 V 2.3256 V 1.7285 V 10 V

Table 2. Current Measurement

IAB ICB IAD ICD IFA

Workbench 27. 027 mA -27. 027 mA 23. 256 mA -23. 256 mA 50. 283 mA

Table 3. Sum of Current at Nodes

A B C D

Workbench 0 mA 0 mA 0 mA 0 mA
 Table 4. Voltage Around Loop
ABCEFA ABCDA

Workbench 0V 0V

IV. DISCUSSION

1. Do the experimental and theoretical values of voltages and currents agree?

Answer:
THEORETICAL VALUES

By Inspection:

VAB = V1, VBC = V2, VDC = V3, VAD = V4, VAC = V12 = V34
IAB = I1, ICB = - I2, ICD = - I3, IAD = I4

Using the Basic Principles in Circuit Analysis:

VT = V1234 = 10 V
370Ω 𝑥 430Ω
R12 = 370 Ω, R34 = 430 Ω, RT = R1234 = = 198. 875Ω
370Ω+430Ω
10 V 80
IT = 198.875Ω = 1591 = 50.283 mA

Using the Current Divider Rule:

𝑅34 430Ω 80 1
𝐼12 = (𝐼𝑇 ) = ( 𝐴) = 𝐴 = 27.027 𝑚𝐴
𝑅12 + 𝑅34 370Ω + 430Ω 1591 37

𝑅12 370Ω 80 1
𝐼34 = (𝐼𝑇 ) = ( 𝐴) = 𝐴 = 23.256 𝑚𝐴
𝑅12 + 𝑅34 370Ω + 430Ω 1591 43

Since I1 & I2, and I3 & I4 are connected in series, it follows that:
 Solving for VBD using KVL:

V1 B V2

LOOP 1 LOOP 2

V4 V3
D
KVL @ Loop 1 KVL @ Loop 2

𝑉1 + 𝑉𝐵𝐷 − 𝑉4 = 0 𝑉2 − 𝑉3 −𝑉𝐵𝐷 = 0
𝑉𝐵𝐷 = 𝑉4 −𝑉1 𝑉𝐵𝐷 = 𝑉2 −𝑉3
𝑉𝐵𝐷 = 7.6744𝑉 − 5.9459𝑉 𝑉𝐵𝐷 = 4.0541𝑉 − 2.3256𝑉
𝑉𝐵𝐷 = 1.7285 V 𝑉𝐵𝐷 = 1.7285 V

The experimental values of the voltages and currents are the resulting
values from the live simulation using Multisim which are tabulated in Table 1 and
Table 2, respectively. Whereas the theoretical values are the values above which
are calculated using Ohm’s Law and Kirchhoff’s Law. As can be observed, the
experimental and theoretical values obtained agree with each other.

2. Give possible reasons for any discrepancies.

Answer:
 Since the experimental values were obtained from online simulation using
Multisim Live, it yielded accurate values for the voltages and currents.
Contrastingly, if the reading of the voltages and currents were conducted live, there
would have been discrepancies. Further, given that the obtained experimental and
theoretical values are exactly the same, the percentage error is equal to 0%

3. Are KVL and KCL verified?

Answer:

Yes. As shown in Tables 3 and 4, all the values are equal to 0 which satisfies
the definition of KVL which states that the algebraic sum of all voltages around any
closed path is 0, and KCL which states that the algebraic sum off all the currents
at a node is 0. Presented below is the solution in getting the values presented in
Tables 3 and 4
KCL

SUM OF CURRENT AT NODE A:

−𝐼𝐴𝐵 −𝐼𝐴𝐷 +𝐼𝐹𝐴 = 0

−27.027 mA − 23.256 mA + 50.283 mA = 0
0=0

SUM OF CURRENT AT NODE B:

𝐼𝐴𝐵 + 𝐼𝐶𝐵 = 0
27.027 mA + (−27.027 mA) = 0
0=0

SUM OF CURRENT AT NODE C:

−𝐼𝐶𝐵 −𝐶𝐴𝐷 −𝐼𝐹𝐴 = 0

−(−27.027 mA) − (−23.256 mA) − 50.283 mA = 0
0=0

SUM OF CURRENT AT NODE D:

𝐼𝐴𝐷 + 𝐼𝐶𝐷 = 0
23.256 mA + (−23.256 mA) = 0
 KVL

VOLTAGE AROUND LOOP:

ABCEFA

Since CEFA = −AC

𝐴𝐵𝐶𝐸𝐹𝐴 = 𝐴𝐵 + 𝐵𝐶 − 𝐴𝐶
= 5.9459 𝑉 + 4.0541 𝑉 − 10 𝑉
= 0𝑉

ABCDA

𝐴𝐵𝐶𝐷𝐴 = 𝐴𝐵 + 𝐵𝐶 − 𝐷𝐶 − 𝐷𝐴
= 5.9459 𝑉 + 4.0541 𝑉
−2.3256𝑉 − 7.6744 𝑉
= 0𝑉

4. Give reasons for any discrepancies

Answer:

Since the both experimental and theoretical values are the same, there are
no discrepancies encountered in computing for KVL and KCL. There would have
been discrepancies if the activity or experiment was conducted live but with the
utilization of Multisim Live, the percentage error obtained is 0%.
V. CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the voltage and current values in a DC Circuit can be

computed using the basic principles in circuit analysis such as the properties of
series and parallel circuits, Ohm’s Law, and Current Divider Rule. Moreover, upon
conducting the activity, Kirchhoff’s Current and Voltage Laws was verified since as
presented in the discussion and Tables 3 and 4, the sum off all currents in a node
is zero, as well as the sum of the voltages around a closed loop. Therefore, it can
be concluded that these laws are essential in circuit analysis. With these,
calculating for the value of any missing voltage or current in a simple or complex
circuit can be done by simply equating all values of currents approaching and
leaving the node to zero for KCL, and all voltage values in a loop for KVL.
Further, it was confirmed that through the values obtained in Multisim is accurate
since the percentage error is 0%.

VI. REFERENCES

Basic Electrical Engineering – Module 3