In the name of Allah

Chapter 10

Kirchhoff ’s laws
 Learning outcomes
You should be able to:
recall and apply Kirchhoff ’s laws.
use Kirchhoff ’s laws to derive the formulae for the combined
resistance of two or more resistors in series and in parallel.
 recognize that ammeters are connected in series within a circuit
and therefore should have low resistance.
recognize that voltmeters are connected in parallel across a
component, or components, and therefore should have high
resistance.
Kirchhoff ’s laws
 Kirchhoff’s first law
 The sum of the currents entering any point in a circuit is
equal to the sum of the currents leaving that same point.

For example, a current of 5.0 A may split at a junction

or a point in a circuit into two separate currents of 2.0 A
and 3.0 A. The total amount of current remains the same
after it splits.
 Kirchhoff’s first law
 Kirchhoff’s first law is an expression of the conservation
of charge. The idea is that the total amount of charge
entering a point must exit the point.

σ 𝐼𝑖𝑛 = σ 𝐼𝑜𝑢𝑡
 Kirchhoff’s second law
The sum of the e.m.f.s around any loop in a circuit is
equal to the sum of the p.d.s around the loop.

This law deals with e.m.f.s and voltages in a circuit.

e.m.f. of battery = sum of p.d.s across the resistors

 Kirchhoff’s second law

Kirchhoff’s second law is an expression of the conservation

of energy. where ΣE is the sum of the e.m.f.s and ΣV is the
sum of the potential differences.
Appling Kirchhoff’s laws
Appling Kirchhoff’s laws
 Resistor combinations
You are already familiar with the formulae used to
calculate the combined resistance R of two or more
resistors connected in series or in parallel. To derive
these formulae we have to make use of Kirchhoff’s
laws.
 Resistors in series
When components are connected in series:
 The p.d. V across the combination is equal to the sum
of the p.d.s across them
 the current in each resistor is the same.
 we use the direct formula to calculate their combined
resistance.
 Resistors in series
 Total P.d 𝑣𝑒𝑞 = 𝑣1 + 𝑣2 + 𝑣3 + ⋯ + 𝑣𝑛

 Total Current 𝐼𝑒𝑞 = 𝐼1 = 𝐼2 = 𝐼3 = ⋯ = 𝐼𝑛

 Total Resistance 𝑅𝑒𝑞 = 𝑅1 + 𝑅2 + 𝑅3 + ⋯ + 𝑅𝑛

 Resistors in Parallel
when components are connected in parallel:
all have the same p.d. across their ends
 the current is shared between them
we use the reciprocal formula to calculate their
combined resistance.
 Resistors in Parallel
 Total P.d 𝑣𝑒𝑞 = 𝑣1 = 𝑣2 = 𝑣3 = ⋯ = 𝑣𝑛

 Total Current 𝐼𝑒𝑞 = 𝐼1 + 𝐼2 + 𝐼3 + ⋯ + 𝐼𝑛

1 1 1 1 1
 Total Resistance = + + + ⋯+
𝑅𝑒𝑞 𝑅1 𝑅2 𝑅3 𝑅𝑛
 Solving problems with parallel circuits
When two or more resistors are connected in parallel, their
combined resistance is smaller than any of their individual
resistances.

When components are connected in parallel, they all have the

same p.d. across them. This means that you can often ignore parts
of the circuit which are not relevant to your calculation.

Similarly, for resistors in parallel, you may be able to calculate

the current in each one individually, then add them up to find the
total current.
 Questions
 three 5.0 Ω resistors are connected in series with a 12V
power supply. Calculate their combined resistance, the
current that flows in the circuit, and the p.d.
across each resistor.

 Two 40 Ω resistors and a 20 Ω resistor are all connected in

parallel with a 12V power supply. Calculate their effective
resistance, and the current through each. What current
flows from the supply?
End of Chapter 10