General

Physics 2 12
Quarter 3
Self-Learning Module13
Kirchhoff’s Law
 EXPECTATIONS

The module is designed for you to have a clear understanding of Kirchhoff’s

Law and its implications in circuit analysis.

At the end of this module, the student must be able to:

a. state the laws involve in Kirchhoff’s law;

b. differentiate the two laws involve in Kirchhoff’s law;
c. solve problems involving Kirchhoff’s law; and
d. identify the importance of Kirchhoff’s law in everyday life.

PRETEST

Choose the letter of the correct answer.

1. Which is a correct statement of Kirchhoff's Loop Law?
A. The sum of currents around any closed loop in a circuit is zero
B. The sum of voltages around any closed loop in a circuit is zero
C. The total current entering a junction is equal to the total current leaving
the junction
D. The total voltage entering a junction is equal to the total voltage leaving the
Junction
2. What would be the correct junction law equation for the junction shown below?

A. I3 = I1 + I2 C. I1 + I3 = I2
B. I1 = I2 + I3 D. I1 + I2 + I3 = 0
3. Resistance is measured in what units?
A. Voltage B. Ohms C. Amperes D. Kapernicks
4. Current is measured in what units?
A. Voltage B. Ohms C. Amperes D. Kapernicks
5. "The sum of all voltage drops in a series circuit equals the total applied voltage."
This is known as what?
A. Ohm's Law C. Kirchhoff's Current Law
B. Kirchhoff's Voltage Law D. Bolen's Law

RECAP

Fill in the blank/s.

1. A _____________________ is a combination of cells that may be connected in series

or in parallel.
2. A _____________________ is an electric device primarily used to detect the presence
of current.

3. An ____________________________is a group of electrical components that are

connected together to form a complete path for current.

4. A ________________ contains more than one electrical component connected one

after the other in a single path.
5. A ________________________ is a device that measures the electromotive force or
potential difference between two points in a circuit.

LESSON

In the circuit in figure 1 on the right, two-wire connect the battery to the wires. Why
do we need two wires? Why can’t we carry the charge from the battery to the resistor
with a single wire? Figure 2 clearly illustrates that there is a complete circuit for a
current to flow. Connecting one wire from a battery to a resistor cannot produce a
current. There must be a return path for the current to return to the voltage source.
 Figure 1 A the pressure produced by a water pump
can cause a current of water around a close loop of
pipe.B if the wall is inserted into the pipe, the
current of water everywhere stops. A pressure
difference then exits across the wall. C a battery
uses an emf to produce a current of charge around a
complete circuit. D if a wire in the circuit is cut, the
current stops everywhere in the circuit.

Figure 3 shows a single ideal battery with an emf ε connected to a single resistor
𝜺
with resistance R. From Ohms law, the current in this circuit, is I = . The
𝑹
electric current in figure 3 consists of charges that travel along a complete loop,
passing through the battery, through the attached wire and resistor, and back to the
battery.

It is sometimes difficult to determine the current In a complete network by

just computing the equivalent resistance. Circuits are containing several loops, with
each loop having its voltage source and resistance. German physicist Gustav
Kirchhoff formulated two laws that make it possible to find the current in each part
of a circuit no matter how complicated the circuit is.
 Kirchhoff’s First Law also called Kirchhoff’s junction rule (or nodal rule),
applies to a junction. A junction (or node) is a point in an electric circuit where three
or more wires are connected. Kirchhoff’s junction rule states that the algebraic sum
of all currents entering and leaving a junction must be equal to zero. It is also known
as Kirchhoff’s current law, which is a statement of conservation of charge.

The second law is the consequence of the conservation of energy. It is known

as Kirchhoff’s loop rule or Kirchhoff’s voltage law. Kirchhoff’s loop rule states
that the algebraic sum of the electromotive forces and the voltage drops in any loop
must be zero. A loop is defined as a closed conducting path.

The following are the steps to follow when applying Kirchhoff’s law.
1.Label the current in each branch as I1, I2, and so on.
2. Assume a direction for each current.
3. In writing the junction equation, the currents entering a junction is positive,
whereas the current leaving a junction is negative.
4. In applying the loop rule, begin at a point in the loop and go around the looping a
clockwise or counterclockwise manner.
5. In writing the loop equation, the following sign convention must be observed.
a. the electromotive is positive if it traverses from the negative terminal to the
positive terminal. It is negative if it traverses from the positive terminal to the
negative terminal.
b. the potential difference across a resistor is negative when the resistor is
traversed in the direction of the current, otherwise, it is positive.
6. The unknown currents are usually determined by solving simultaneous loop
equations as well as the junction equations.

Sample Problem:
Determine I1, I2 and I3 given that ε1 =5.00 V, ε2= 10.00 V,
ε3= 12.00 V, R1 =2.00 Ω, R2 =3.00 Ω, and R3 =4.00Ω.

Solutions:
The current for each branch is labeled and a direction for each
current is assumed. There are only two junctions in the given
circuit, A and B. The junction equation for points A and B are
as follows:
For junction A: I1-I2-I3 = 0 (1)
For junction B: -I1+ I2 + I3 = 0 (2)
The three loops that may be considered for the given circuit are shown on the right
Starting with points A and going clockwise around each loop will yield the following
loop equation.
For loop 1:
-ε1 + I1R1 + I2R2 + ε2 = 0 (3)
-5.00V + I1(2.00Ω) + I2(3.00Ω) + 10.00V = 0
For loop 2:
-ε1 - I2R2 - ε3 + I3R3 = 0 (4)
-10.00V + I2(3.00Ω) – 12.00 + I3(4.00Ω) = 0

For loop 3:
-ε1 + I1R1 – ε3 + I3R3 = 0 (5)
-5.00 V + I1(2.00Ω) – 12.00 V + I3(4.00Ω) = 0

From (1), I1 = I2 + I3 (6)

Substituting (6) to (3)
(-5.00 V) + (I2 + I3)(2.00Ω) + I2(3.00Ω) + 10.00V = 0
-5.00V + (2.00Ω) I2 + (2.00 Ω) I3 + (3.00Ω) I2+ 10.00V = 0
I3 = (-5.00 Ω) I2 – 5.00 V (7)
2.00 Ω

Substituting (7) for I3 in (4)

(−5.00Ω 𝐼2 ) −(5.00 𝑉)
(-10.00 V) – I2(3.00 Ω) – (12.00 V) + (4.00 Ω) = 0
2.00 Ω

(-13.00 Ω) I2 = 32 V
I2 = -2.46 A

Using (7)
I3 = (-5.00 Ω) ( -2.46A) – 5.00V = 3.65 A
2.00 Ω

Using (6),
I1 = 3.65 A – 2.46 A = 1.19 A
 ACTIVITIES

Activity 1: Kirchoff’s Law: Problem Solving

Solve the following:

1. Determine the current through each resistor in the circuit shown below.

2. Given the circuit below with 3A of current running through the 4 Ω resistor as
indicated in the diagram below. Determine

a. the current through each of the other resistors

b. the voltage of the battery on the left

c. the power delivered to the circuit by the battery on the right.

 Activity 2: Ohm's Law & Kirchhoff's Law in Mixed Circuits
Examine the circuit carefully and calculate the missing values using Ohm’s Law and
Kirchhoff’s Law. Show all of your work on a separate piece of paper and record your
final answers on this page. Keep two decimal places.

VT = IT = RT =

V1 = I1 = R1 =

V2 = I2 = R2 =

V3 = I3 = R3 =

V4 = I4 = R4 =

V5 = I5 = R5 =

V6 = I6 = R6 =
 WRAP-UP

Fill in the blank/s:

Kirchhoff’s First law, also called 1. _________________ (or nodal rule), applies
to a junction. A 2. ____________(or node) is a point in an electric circuit where three
or more wires are connected. Kirchhoff’s junction rule states that the algebraic sum
of all currents entering and leaving a junction must be equal to 3. ____________. It is
also known as 4. ___________________, which is a statement of 5. __________________.

The second law is the consequence of the conservation of energy. It is known

as 6. _________________ or Kirchhoff’s voltage law. Kirchhoff’s loop rule states that
the algebraic sum of the electromotive forces and the voltage drops in any loop must
be 7. _______________. A loop is defined as a 8. _____________ conducting path.

VALUING

Activity 3: Cite some importance of Kirchhoff’s Law in our daily life

Kirchhoff's
application

1. 2. 3.
 POSTTEST

Choose the letter of the correct answer.

1. "The total current in a parallel circuit equals the sum of the individual branch
currents.”
A. Ohm's Law C. Kirchhoff's Current Law
B. Kirchhoff's Voltage Law D. Bolen's Law
2. What does Kirchhoff's second law show?
A. conservation of charge
B. conservation of energy
C. The sum of the currents entering a junction is the sum of the current
leaving the junction
D. In any closed loop, the sum of the e.m.f. is equal to the sum of the
products of the current and the resistance (potential difference)
3.For the circuit shown, the resistances are R1 > R2 > R3. What is true about the
current through each resistor?

A. I1 = I2 = I3 C. I1 > I2 > I3
B. I1 > I3 > I2 D. I1 < I3 < I2
4. An electrical junction has four wires A, B, C, and D connected to it. Wire A
carries 7A going in, wire B carries 5 A going out and wire C carries 2 A going in.
What does wire D carry?
A. 10 A going out C. 5 A going out
B. 4 A going in D. 4 A going out
5. A potential divider contains three resistors of 4 Ω, 7 Ω, and 9 Ω. If the voltage
across the 7 Ω is 21 V, what is the supply voltage?
A. 21 V C. 63 V
B. 33 V D. 60 V