Physics 204 Lab

Kirchoff's Laws
Week 3
 Purposes of experiment

To verify Kirchhoff’s voltage law (KVL) and Kirchhoff’s current law (KCL) by
comparing voltages obtained from a real circuit to those predicted by Kir chhoff’s Laws.
 The Experiment Theory

The two basic laws of electricity that are most useful in analyzing circuits are Kirchhoff’s laws for current and
voltage.

Σ 𝐼𝑖𝑛 = Σ 𝐼𝑜𝑢𝑡
Kirchhoff ’s Current Law (The Junction Rule) states that at any junction (node) of a circuit,

the algebraic sum of all the currents is zero

(sum of the currents entering the junction equals the sum of the currents leaving the junction).

In other words, electric charge is conserved.

The Experiment Theory
Ex

𝐼1

𝐼4 𝐼2
node

𝐼3

Σ 𝐼𝑖𝑛 = Σ 𝐼𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝐼1 + 𝐼3 = 𝐼2 + 𝐼4
 The Experiment Theory

Σ 𝑉𝑠 = Σ 𝑅 𝐼

Kirchhoff ’s Voltage Law (The Loop Rule) states that around any closed loop or path in a circuit,

the algebraic sum of all electric potential differences is equal to zero.

Where each part of the two law is defined as followed :

𝐼𝑖𝑛 the current flow into a node
𝐼𝑜𝑢𝑡 the current flow out of a node
𝑉𝑠 the sum of voltage in the circuit
R the resistance
𝐼 the current flow through the resistor
 The Experiment Theory
Ex
𝑐 𝑏 𝐼1 𝑎
Σ𝑉 = Σ𝑅𝐼
𝑅3 𝑅1
1 𝑉 = 𝑅1 𝐼2 + 𝑅2 𝐼2
V
𝑅4 𝑅2

𝑑 𝑒 𝑓
 The Experiment Theory
To calculate magnitudes of current and voltage in a circuit ,

you will need to write three equations, making use of both the loop and junction rules.

This results in three equations with three unknowns.

For this experiment, you will measure 𝑉𝑖 and 𝑅𝑖 , then solve for the three currents, 𝐼𝑖 .
i is an integer
Circuit Diagram
 Apparatus
• 3 Resistors( , , )
• Connecting wires
• Ammeter
• 2 Batteries
Experiment
 Data
Experimental

1st branch 2nd branch 3rd branch

I(A)
V(volt) 0
 Data
Theoretical To find the values of the current, we
need to rewrite the circuit in
equations form by using Kirchhoff's
𝐼1
Lows
𝐼3
𝑅3 𝑅2 𝑅1
The number of currents in the circuit
𝐼2 is equal to:
𝑉2 𝑉1 The number of nods + 1 = 2+1=3
currents.
we write Kirchhoff’s current law
Σ 𝐼𝑖𝑛 = Σ 𝐼𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝐼1 + 𝐼2 = 𝐼3 ...1
 𝑐 𝑏 𝐼1 𝑎
Data
we write Kirchhoff’s Voltage (KVL) law
𝐼3
for a close loop.
𝑅3 𝑅2 𝑅1

𝐼2 Because we have three unknown

currents in the circuit we need three
𝑉2 𝑉1
equations
𝑑 𝑒 𝑓
1st Find the closed loops
𝑐 𝑏 𝐼1 𝑎 1. abcdefa loop
𝐼3 2. abefa loop
3.bcdeb loop
𝑅3 𝑅1
1
2nd chose a random direction to read
each loop.
𝑉1
Σ 𝑉𝑠 = Σ 𝑅 𝐼
𝑑 𝑒 𝑓
 𝑏 𝐼1 𝑎 Data
Signs rules
𝑅2 𝑅1

𝐼2 2
If the direction of reading the circuit is with the
𝑉2 𝑉1
direction of the current, The voltage on the
𝑒 𝑓 resistor will be positive(e.g. +RI).

𝑐 𝑏
𝐼3
𝑅3 𝑅2 If it opposite, It will be negative(e.g. –RI).
3
𝐼2
𝑉2
Σ 𝑉𝑠 = Σ 𝑅 𝐼
𝑑 𝑒
 𝑐
𝐼3
𝑏 𝐼1 𝑎
Data
First loop equation
𝑅3 𝑅1
1 Σ 𝑉𝑠 = Σ 𝑅 𝐼
𝑉1 𝑉1 = 𝑅1 𝐼1 + 𝑅3 𝐼3 ...2
𝑑 𝑒 𝑓

𝑏 𝐼1 𝑎 Second loop equation

Σ 𝑉𝑠 = Σ 𝑅 𝐼
𝑅2 𝑅1
𝑉1 − 𝑉2 = 𝑅1 𝐼1 − 𝑅2 𝐼2 ...3
𝐼2 2

𝑉2 𝑉1

𝑒 𝑓
 𝑐 𝑏 Data
𝐼3 First loop equation
𝑅3 𝑅2 Σ 𝑉𝑠 = Σ 𝑅 𝐼
3
𝐼2
𝑉2 𝑉2 = 𝑅2 𝐼2 + 𝑅3 𝐼3 ...4

𝑑 𝑒
 Data
All equation

𝐼1 + 𝐼2 = 𝐼3 ...1

𝑉1 = 𝑅1 𝐼1 + 𝑅3 𝐼3 ...2

𝑉1 − 𝑉2 = 𝑅1 𝐼1 − 𝑅2 𝐼2 ...3

𝑉2 = 𝑅2 𝐼2 + 𝑅3 𝐼3 ...4

Determen two equation with the first equation

 Data
To find the current by using three equations

1st we write the equations in the linear equation in three variable and apply its value

𝑅1 = 470Ω, 𝑅2 =680Ω, 𝑅3 = 470Ω 𝑉1 = 10𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡 , 𝑉2 =15volt

aI1 +bI2 +cI3 =E

𝐼1 + 𝐼2 − 𝐼3 =0 ...1

𝑅1 𝐼1 + 𝑅3 𝐼3 = 𝑉1 ...2

470 𝐼1 +470 𝐼3 =10

𝑅1 𝐼1 − 𝑅2 𝐼2 = 𝑉1 − 𝑉2 ...3

470 𝐼1 -680 𝐼2 =-5

 Data
Using matrix to solve the equations

𝑎1 𝑏1 𝑐1 𝐸1 1 1 −1 0
𝑎2 𝑏2 𝑐2 𝐸2 470 0 470 10
𝑎3 𝑏3 𝑐3 𝐸3 470 −680 0 −5
 Data
1 1 −1
0 470 470 470 470 0
X = 470 0 470 = 1 –1 +(-1)
−680 0 470 0 470 −680
470 −680 0
= 1(319600)-1(-220900)-1(-319600)=860100

0 1 −1
𝑋1 = 10 0 470 = 4450
−5 −680 0
 Data
1 0 −1
𝑋2 = 470 10 470 =9400
470 −5 0

1 1 0
𝑋3 = 470 0 10 =13850
470 −680 −5

𝑋1 4450 𝑋2 9400
𝐼1 = = = 5.2 𝑚𝐴 𝐼2 = = = 10.9 𝑚𝐴
𝑋 860100 𝑋 860100

𝑋3 643850
𝐼3 = = = 16.1 𝑚𝐴
𝑋 860100