Lesson 2.
Kirchhoff’s Laws
2.1 Kirchhoff’s Voltage and Current Law
At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:
1. The students will be able to solve problems in DC circuits using Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law
2. The students will be able to solve problems in DC circuits using Kirchhoff’s Current Law
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law
It states that the algebraic sum of all voltages around a closed path (or loop) is zero.
KVL can be applied in two ways: by taking either a clockwise or a counterclockwise trip around the loop.
Either way, the algebraic sum of voltages around the loop is zero. But in our case, we will take clockwise
as our convention.
Illustration:
Consider the sign of the terminal on which the loop will enter the element e.g. (-) for v1 and (+) for v3.
Therefore, the KVL equation will be: −𝑣1 + 𝑣2 + 𝑣3 − 𝑣4 + 𝑣5 = 0
Note: The number of variables should agree with the number of elements in the circuit
For open circuit voltages, the same principle applies.
The KVL equation will be:−𝑣𝑎𝑏 + 𝑣1 + 𝑣2 − 𝑣3 = 0
In some cases where voltages are not included, use Ohm’s Law.
The KVL equation will be: −30 + 3𝐼 − 10 + 5𝐼 + 8 = 0
Illustrative Problems
1. Find the voltages v1 and v2 using Kirchhoff’s Laws
Solution:
v1 and v2 should be expressed in terms of current and resistance i.e. v = iR and take the sign on which
the loop entered the element
𝑣1 = (𝑖)(2) 𝑜𝑟 2
𝑣2 = (𝑖)(3) 𝑜𝑟 3𝑖
For KVL, it is advisable to assume that v1 and v2 do not exist.
Using the clockwise convention, the KVL equation can now be derived.
−20 + 2𝑖 + 3𝑖 = 0
−20 + 5𝑖 = 0
5𝑖 = 20
20
𝑖= 𝑜𝑟 4 𝐴
5
Therefore,
𝑣1 = 2𝑖 = 2(4) = 8 𝑉
𝑣2 = 3𝑖 = 3(4) = 12 𝑉
To check, use the KVL equation
−20 + 𝑣1 + 𝑣2 = 0
−20 + (8) + (12) = 0
0=0
2. Find the voltages v1 and v2 using Kirchhoff’s Laws
Solution:
v1 and v2 should be expressed in terms of current and resistance i.e. v = iR and take the sign on which
the loop entered the element
𝑣1 = (𝑖)(4) 𝑜𝑟 4𝑖
𝑣2 = (𝑖)(2) 𝑜𝑟 2𝑖
For KVL, it is advisable to assume that v1 and v2 do not exist.
Using the clockwise convention, the KVL equation can now be derived.
−10 + 4𝑖 − 8 + 2𝑖 = 0
−18 + 6𝑖 = 0
6𝑖 = 18
18
𝑖= 𝑜𝑟 3 𝐴
6
Therefore,
𝑣1 = 4𝑖 = 4(3) = 12 𝑉
𝑣2 = 2𝑖 = 2(3) = 6 𝑉
To check, use the KVL equation:
−10 + 𝑣1 − 8 − 𝑣2 = 0
−10 + (12) − 8 + (6) = 0
0=0
3. Find the voltages v1 and v2 using Kirchhoff’s Laws
Solution: Note that the terminals of v2 are reversed
v1 and v2 should be expressed in terms of current and resistance i.e. v = iR and take the sign on which
the loop entered the element
𝑣1 = (𝑖)(4) 𝑜𝑟 4𝑖
𝑣2 = −(𝑖)(2) 𝑜𝑟 − 2𝑖
For KVL, it is advisable to assume that v1 and v2 do not exist.
Using the clockwise convention, the KVL equation can now be derived.
−10 + 4𝑖 − 8 + 2𝑖 = 0
−18 + 6𝑖 = 0
6𝑖 = 18
18
𝑖= 𝑜𝑟 3 𝐴
6
Therefore,
𝑣1 = 4𝑖 = 4(3) = 12 𝑉
𝑣2 = −2𝑖 = −2(3) = −6 𝑉
To check, use the KVL equation:
−10 + 𝑣1 − 8 − 𝑣2 = 0
−10 + (12) − 8 − (−6) = 0
0=0
Application
Using a voltmeter, the voltage across an element can be measured
Reverse Polarity means taking negative of the actual value. This implies that having a negative reading
for a voltage simply means that we have to interchange the polarity of the voltmeter.
Kirchhoff’s Current Law
It states that the sum of the currents entering a node is equal to the sum of the currents leaving the
node.
For uniformity, we can assign the current entering the node as positive, while the current leaving as
negative.
Hence, we can arrive at this KCL equation at node a:
𝑖1 − 𝑖2 + 𝑖3 + 𝑖4 − 𝑖5 = 0
KCL is also applicable for current sources, or a combination of branch current and current sources.
For the given circuit, the KCL equation at node A is
−𝐼𝑇 + 𝐼1 − 𝐼2 + 𝐼3 = 0
Illustrative Problems:
1. Determine i1, i2 and i3 in the circuit
Solution:
For i1
By inspection, i1 is involved in node A and the node below it. Let us assign it as node D.
We are going to compare our answer by performing KCL at both nodes
KCL at A
𝑖1 − 2 − 12 = 0
𝑖1 − 14 = 0
𝑖1 = 14 𝐴
KCL at D
−𝑖1 + 10 + 4 = 0
−𝑖1 + 14 = 0
𝑖1 = 14 𝐴
Since we have already proven that using one (1) KCL is enough, we can now apply it in solving for i2.
By inspection, i2 is involved in node B. Performing KCL at node B yields
12 − 𝑖2 − 14 = 0
−𝑖2 − 2 = 0
𝑖2 = −2 𝐴 (Note that i2 is in the wrong direction)
For i3
By inspection, i3 is involved in node C. Performing KCL at node C yields
−4 + 14 − 𝑖3 = 0
10 − 𝑖3 = 0
𝑖3 = 10 𝐴
2. Use KCL to find the branch current I1 to I4
Solution: We can assign node labels to avoid confusion:
KCL at node A
−𝐼1 + 𝐼2 − 2 = 0 − 𝐸𝑞. 1
KCL at node B
−𝐼2 − 3 − 7 = 0
−𝐼2 − 10 = 0
𝐼2 = −10 𝐴
KCL at node C
7 − 𝐼3 + 𝐼4 = 0 − 𝐸𝑞. 2
KCL at node D
2 − 𝐼4 − 4 = 0
−𝐼4 − 2 = 0
𝐼4 = −2 𝐴
Substitute I2 to Eq. 1
−𝐼1 + 𝐼2 − 2 = 0
−𝐼1 + (−10) − 2 = 0
𝐼1 = −12 𝐴
Substitute I4 to Eq. 2
7 − 𝐼3 + 𝐼4 = 0
7 − 𝐼3 + (−2) = 0
𝐼3 = 5 𝐴