5/28/2021 Kirchhoff's Law of Circuits with Examples

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Kirchhoff's Law of Circuits with Examples

Kirchhoff's's Law of Current

Kirchhoff's law of current states that the algebraic sum of all current at any node (or report this ad

junction) in an electrical circuit is equal to zero or equivalently the sum of the currents

flowing into a node is equal to the sum of the currents flowing out of that node. Search

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\[ \sum i_{in} = \sum

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i_{out} \] Home

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5/28/2021 Kirchhoff's Law of Circuits with Examples

At the node \( N \) above, we may write

\( i_1 + i_2 = i_3 + i_4 \)

\( \)\( \)\( \)

Use Kirchhoff's Law of Current to Solve Current Problems

Example 1

Find current \( i_3 \) at the node shown below.

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Solution to Example 1

Currents \( i_1 \) and \( i_2 \) are flowing into the node and currents \( i_3 \) and \( i_4 \) are

flowing out of the node. Apply Kirchhoff's law of current at the given node.

\( i_1 + i_2 \) = \( i_3 + i_4 \)

Substitute the known quantities

\( 2 + 9 = i_3 + 4 \)

Solve for \( i_3 \)

\( i_3 = 7\) A

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Example 2

Find currents \( i_3 \) and \( i_4 \) at the nodes \( N_1 \) and \( N_2 \) shown below.

Solution to Example 2

We are not given any information whether \( i_3 \) and \( i_4 \) flow into or out of the nodes.

We assume \( i_3 \) flowing out of node \( N_1 \) and \( i_4 \) flowing out of node \( N_2 \) as

shown below (in red) and use Kirchhoff's current law.

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5/28/2021 Kirchhoff's Law of Circuits with Examples

At node \( N_1 \), \( i_1 \) flows into \( N_1 \) and \( i_2 \) and \( i_3 \) flow out of \( N_1 \),

hence

\( i_1 \) = \( i_2 \) + \( i_3 \)

Substitute by known quantities

\( 5 \) = \( 9 \) + \( i_3 \)

Solve for \( i_3 \)

\( i_3 = - 4\)

Because \( i_3 \) is negative, \( i_3 \) flows into node \( N_1 \)

At node \( N_2 \), \( i_3 \) and \( i_5 \) flows into \( N_2 \) and \( i_4 \) flows out of \( N_2 \),

hence

\( i_3 + i_5 \) = \( i_4 \)

Substitute by known quantities

\( - 4 + 10 \) = \( i_4 \)

Solve for \( i_4 \)

\( i_4 = 6 \)

Because \( i_4 \) is positive it therefore flows out of node \( N_2 \)

Kirchhoff's's Law of Voltage

Kirchhoff's law of voltage states that in any closed loop in an electrical circuit, the algebraic x

sum of all voltages around the loop is equal to zero.

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5/28/2021 Kirchhoff's Law of Circuits with Examples

\[ \sum v_{k} = 0 \]

Using the closed loop, we may write

\( e - V_{R_1} - V_{R_2} = 0 \)

Note: The voltage polarities for voltage sources and voltages across passive components

such as resistor has to be respected and the signs taken care of.

\( \)\( \)\( \)

Use Kirchhoff's Law of Voltage to Solve Voltage Problems

Example 3

Use Kirchhoff's Law of Voltage and all possible closed loops to write equations involving

voltages in the circuit below and explain the signs of the voltages.

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5/28/2021 Kirchhoff's Law of Circuits with Examples

Solution to Example 3

Step 1: Set negative and positive polarities for all voltages (sources and across passive

components). See diagram above

Step 2: Set arrows from the negative to the positive polarity of each voltage. See diagram

above.

Step 3: Use Kirchhoff's Law of Voltage to write the equation following the rule:

As we go around the loop, if the arrow of the voltage is in the same direction as the loop it

is "counted" as a positive voltage and if it is against it is "counted" as a negative voltage.

Loop \( L_1 \): The arrow of the voltage source \( e \) is in the same direction as the loop

hence positive. The arrows of voltages \( V_{R_1} \) and \( V_{R_2} \), across the resistors,

are against the direction of the loop hence negative.

Kirchhoff's Law for loop \( L_1 \) gives:

\( e - V_{R_1} - V_{R_2} = 0 \)

Loop \( L_2 \): The arrows of the voltage \( V_{R_2} \) is in the same direction of the loop

hence positive. The arrows of voltages \( V_{R_2} \), is against the direction of the loop

hence negative.

Kirchhoff's Law for loop \( L_2 \) gives:

\( V_{R_2} - V_{R_3 } = 0 \)

Loop \( L_3\): The arrows of the voltage source \( e \) is in the same direction as the loop

hence positive. The arrows of voltages \( V_{R_1} \) and \( V_{R_3} \), are against the

direction of the loop hence negative.

Kirchhoff's Law for loop \( L_3 \) gives:

\( e - V_{R_1} - V_{R_3 } = 0 \)

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5/28/2021 Kirchhoff's Law of Circuits with Examples

Example 4

In the circuit below \( e_1 = 20 \) Volts, \( V_{R_2} = 5 \) Volts and \( e_2 = 10 \) Volts. Find

the voltages \( V_{R_2} \) and \( V_{R_3} \).

Solution to Example 4

Apply Kirchhoff's law of voltage to loop \(L_1 \) and write the equation

\( e_1 - V_{r_1} - V_{R_2} = 0 \)

Substitute the known quantities

\( 20 - 5 - V_{R_2} = 0 \)

Solve for \( V_{R_2} \)

\( V_{R_2} = 15 \) A

Apply Kirchhoff's law of voltage to loop \(L_2 \) and write the equation

\( V_{r_2} + e_2 - V_{R_3} = 0 \)

Substitute the known quantities

\( 15 + 10 - V_{R_3} = 0 \)

Solve for \( V_{R_3} \)

\( V_{R_3} = 25 \)

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Important Note

What about loop \( L_3 \)?

Apply Kirchhoff's law of voltage to loop \(L_3 \) and write the equation

\( e_1 - V_{R_1} + e_2 - V_{R_3} = 0 \)

Substitute the known quantities

\( 20 - 5 + 10 - 25 = 0\)

The above equation is already satisfied. The mathematical meaning is that some of the

equations given by Kirchhoff's law of voltage are not independent.

More References and Links

Kirchhoff's Law

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