Series and Parallel Combination of Elements

Dr. M. Surya Prakash

ECED, NIT-Calicut

1
Applying KVL
Dr. M. Surya Prakash
−𝑣𝑠 + 𝑣1 + 𝑣2 + ⋯ + 𝑣𝑁 = 0
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⇒ 𝑣𝑠 = 𝑣1 + 𝑣2 + ⋯ + 𝑣𝑁

Applying Ohm’s law:

𝑣𝑠 = 𝑖𝑅1 + 𝑖𝑅2 + ⋯ + 𝑖𝑅𝑁 = 𝑖(𝑅1 + 𝑅2 + ⋯ + 𝑅𝑁 ) = 𝑖𝑅𝑒𝑞

⇒ 𝑅𝑒𝑞 = 𝑅1 +𝑅2 + ⋯ + 𝑅𝑁 2
Applying KCL

−𝑖𝑠 + 𝑖1 + 𝑖2 + ⋯ + 𝑖𝑁 = 0

⇒ 𝑖𝑠 = 𝑖1 + 𝑖2 + ⋯ + 𝑖𝑁

𝑣 𝑣 𝑣
= + +⋯+
𝑅1 Dr. M. Surya Prakash
𝑅2 𝑅𝑁

1
ECED, NIT-Calicut
1 1 𝑣
= + +⋯+ 𝑣=
𝑅1 𝑅2 𝑅𝑁 𝑅𝑒𝑞

1 1 1 1
= + +⋯+
𝑅𝑒𝑞 𝑅1 𝑅2 𝑅𝑁

3
Q1: Determine 𝑣 in the circuit first by
combining the three current sources and
then the two resistors.

Dr. M. Surya Prakash

ECED, NIT-Calicut

4
Voltage and Current Division Rules

Applying KVL and Ohm’s law:

𝑣 = 𝑣1 + 𝑣2 = 𝑖𝑅1 + 𝑖𝑅2 = 𝑖(𝑅1 + 𝑅2 )

𝑣 1𝑅 𝑅2
⇒ 𝑖=
𝑅1 +𝑅2 Dr. 1M.𝑅Surya
⇒ 𝑣 =
+𝑅1
𝑣
2
Prakash
and 𝑣2 =
𝑅 1 +𝑅2
𝑣

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If 𝑅2 is replaced by series combination of 𝑅2, 𝑅3 , … , 𝑅𝑁 , the voltage 𝑣𝑘 that appears

across an arbitrary resistor 𝑅𝑘 in the series combination is given by

𝑅𝑘
𝑣𝑘 = 𝑣
𝑅1 + 𝑅2 +𝑅3 + ⋯ + 𝑅𝑁
5
Applying KCL and Ohm’s law:

𝑣 𝑣 1 1 (𝑅1+𝑅2 )𝑣
𝑖 = 𝑖1 + 𝑖2 = + = + 𝑣=
𝑅1 𝑅2 𝑅1 𝑅2 𝑅1 𝑅2

𝑅1𝑅2𝑖 𝑣 𝑅1 𝑖 𝑣 𝑅2 𝑖
⇒ 𝑣= ⇒ 𝑖1 = 𝑅 𝑖 = 𝑅 and 𝑖2 = 𝑖=
𝑅1+𝑅2 2 1 +𝑅2 𝑅1 𝑅1 +𝑅2

Dr. M. Surya Prakash

For a parallel combination of 𝑁 resistors 𝑅2 , 𝑅3 , … , 𝑅𝑁 , the current 𝑖𝑘 flowing
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through resistance 𝑅𝑘 will be

1
𝑅𝑘
𝑖𝑘 = 𝑖
1 1 1
+ + ⋯+
𝑅1 𝑅2 𝑅𝑁
6
Q2: Determine the current 𝑖1 in amperes for the
circuit shown (NOTE: Answer must be rounded-off
to two decimal places).

Dr. M. Surya Prakash

ECED, NIT-Calicut

7
Basic Circuit Analysis Techniques

1. Nodal Analysis – Used to find the voltage at different nodes in a circuit and

is based on Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL).

Dr. M. Surya Prakash
2. ECED,
Mesh Analysis – Used to find NIT-Calicut
the current flowing through different

branches in a circuit and is based on Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL).

8
Nodal Analysis

Dr. M. Surya Prakash

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9
 𝑣1 𝑣1 −𝑣2
−3.1+ + =0
2 2

⇒ 7𝑣1 − 2𝑣2 = 31 (1)

𝑣2−𝑣1 𝑣2
2
+
1 Dr. M.
+ (−1.4) = 0Surya
Prakash
ECED, NIT-Calicut
⇒ 2𝑣1 + 12𝑣2 = 14 (2)

⇒ 𝑣1 = 5𝑉, 𝑣2 = 2𝑉

10
Q3: In the circuit shown, find the current i flowing
through the 15Ω resistance.

Dr. M. Surya Prakash

ECED, NIT-Calicut

11
Q4: In the circuit shown, find the voltage across
the 2Ω resistance using nodal analysis (NOTE: Answer
must be rounded-off to two decimal places).

Dr. M. Surya Prakash

ECED, NIT-Calicut

12
References:

1. W. H. Hayt, J. Kimmerly & S.M. Durbin Engineering Circuit Analysis, 8th

Edition., McGraw Hill Publishers (some text and images have been imported
from this textbook).
Dr. M. Surya Prakash
ECED, NIT-Calicut

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Dr. M. Surya Prakash
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