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GENERAL PHYSICS 2 Q3-W4-L1

DC CIRCUITS AND KIRCHHOFF’S LAW
MELC 4 : Calculate the current and voltage through and across circuit
elements using Kirchhoff’s loop and junction rules
(STEM_GP12EM-IIIf-47-g-51 )
Knowledge : Define Nodes, Branches, and Loops.
Skills : Compute voltages and currents using Kirchhoff's Law.
Attitude : Appreciate the importance of DC circuits in real life application.

What To Know
Circuit Elements
Element is the building blocks of a circuit while Electric Circuit is the
interconnection of the elements. Circuit Analysis on the other hand, is the
process of determining voltages across ( or the currents through) the elements of
circuit.
Two types of elements found in Electric Circuit
1. Passive Elements - doesn't have a capability to generate energy. The main
examples are Resistors, Capacitors and Inductors.
2. Active Elements - does have a capability to generate energy. The main
examples are Generators, Batteries and Operational
Amplifiers.
Types of Active Elements
1. Ideal Independent Source - is an active element that provides specified voltage
or current that is completely independent of other circuit elements.

Figure 1. Constant or Figure 2. Constant- Figure 3. Independent

time-varying voltage voltage only Current Source
2.
Ideal dependent Source - is an active element in which the source quantity is
controlled by another voltage or current.

Figure 4. Dependent voltage Figure 5. Dependent current

source source

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 Remember that the voltage source comes with polarity (positive or
negative) and the voltage is always across the element. The current source
comes with arrow and is measured through the element.
Nodes, Branches, and Loops
Network is the interconnection of elements or devices while circuit is a net-
work providing one or more closed paths.
Branch – represents a single element such as voltage source or a resistor.
Node – is the point of connection between two or more branches.
Loop – is any closed path in a circuit.
b=l+n-1 where : b = no. of branches, l = no. of loops and n = no. of nodes.

Voltage across the elements are the same in parallel connection while
Current that passing through an elements are the same in series connection.
Example 1
Directions: Compute the number of nodes of the circuit
shown in figure 6.

Figure 6

Kirchhoff’s Laws
A. Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL) - states that the algebraic sum of currents
entering a node (closed boundary or in parallel connection) is zero.

where N = number of branches to the

node and I is the nth current entering or
leaving the node. Note that the current
entering the node is positive while the
current leaving the node is negative.

Figure 7

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B. Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL)
- states that the algebraic sum of
voltage around a closed path (loop
or in series connection) . See figure
8.

Figure 8

Example 2
Directions: Compute V1 and V2 in the circuit shown on
figure 9 given that R1 = 4 Ω and R2 = 2 Ω.

Figure 9

Example 3
Directions: Compute the currents and voltages in
the circuit shown on figure 9.

Figure 9

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Voltage, Current and Resistance in Parallel and Series Connection
For the series For the parallel
con ne cti on of connection of
capacitors, use the capacitors, use the
formulas : formulas :

Equivalent Resistance and Current formula for Parallel Connection:

Using figure 10, we can derive formulas for the
equivalent resistance and individual currents.

Where:
Req = equivalent resistance
iT = total current
R2 = resistance 2
R3 = resistance 3 Figure 10

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 What To Do
Directions: Read and analyze carefully the problem below. Write your
computations and the sketch of the circuit diagram on a separate
sheet of yellow pad paper. Box and use two decimal places on your
final answers.

Problem 1: Calculate the Vx and

Vo in the circuit
shown on figure 11.

Figure 11

Problem 2: Find the currents

and voltages in the
circuit shown on
figure 12.

Figure 12

Problem 3: Find Vo and io in the

circuit shown on
figure 13.

Figure 13
Problem 4: Find V1 and V2 in the
circuit shown on
figure 14 given that
the current source is
30mA.

Figure 14

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 What To Be Done
Performance Task
Directions: List down 10 basic electric components that are commonly used in
a DC electric circuit. Write down the name, symbol and the func-
tion/description of this component. Use the sample format below.
Do this on 1/16 illustration board. You can use available art mate-
rials on your output.

Name of Component Symbol Description

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

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