Chapter 5 – Kirchoff’s laws

Gustav Robert Kirchhoff was born in Konigsberg Germany on March 12 of 1824. During his student
years in the late 1850's he made important contributions to electrical circuit theories. He
demonstrated that an alternating current in a zero resistance conductor would flow at the speed of
light and he also formulated what we call Kirchhoff s current and voltage laws.

Kirchhoff s current law : The algebraic sum of the currents

flowing towards a point is equal to the sum of the currents
flowing away from that point. Thus the algebraic sum of the
currents at a point is equal to zero. Mathematically this is
expressed as:
I1 + I2- I3 - I4 + I5 = 0. ( I = 0 )

Kirchhoff s potential law : The algebraic sum of the potential

differences in a closed circuit is equal to zero. Mathematically this
is expressed as: E1 - E2 = IR1 - IR2 or  E =  IR
 The following are typical steps to be followed when solving
branch currents using Kirchhoff’s Laws.
ABFD : E1 = l1R1 + (I1 + I2)R3
CBFG : E2 = l2R2 + (I1 + I2)R3
ACGD : E1 - E2 = l1R1 – l2R2

Take note of:

The notations ABCDFG
The arrows indicating the potential and current directions,
I3 = l1 + I2 and
the various subscripts.

Example
Two batteries, E1 and E2, with e.m.f.'s of 6 V and 2 V and
internal resistances of 2  and 3  respectively are
connected in parallel with a 5  resistance. Calculate the
current in each branch and the output voltage of each battery.

11 = 1,2258 A ....(3
• (3) into (l) · 6 = 7 x l ,226 + 5I2.
• I2 = - 0,5164 A
I3 = I1 +I2
= 1,2258 + (- 0,5164)
= 0,7094 A

E1 = V1 + I1.r1
6 = V1 +1,2258 x 2
V1= 3,548 V