9

  

Study Guide Summaries

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Kirchhoff's Laws and Complex Circuits

Introduction to Electric Circuits
An electric circuit is a system of interconnected electrical components that provides a complete
path for the movement of electric charge. These circuits can be represented using schematic
diagrams, which employ standardized symbols for different components.

Circuit Components and Symbols

Wire/Conductor: Represented by lines.
Resistor/Load: Represented by a zigzag line.
Battery: Represented by a series of alternating long and short parallel lines, indicating multiple
cells. A single pair of lines represents a single cell.

Switch: Represented by a break in the line. An open switch shows a gap, while a closed switch
shows a continuous line.

Capacitor: Represented by two parallel lines.

Types of Circuits
Closed Circuit: A circuit that provides a complete, unbroken path for current to flow.
Open Circuit: A circuit that has a break in the path, preventing the flow of current.
Short Circuit: A closed circuit that bypasses the intended load, allowing current to flow directly
from the positive to the negative terminal. This results in a very large current and can be
dangerous, potentially causing fires.

Sources of Electromotive Force (emf)

A source of emf, such as a battery or generator, is a device that increases the electric potential
energy of charges, providing the potential difference and electrical energy for the circuit.

Terminal Voltage
The terminal voltage is the actual potential difference across the terminals of a source of emf. In a
simple circuit, the potential difference across the load is equal to the terminal voltage of the
source.

Kirchhoff's Laws
Kirchhoff's laws are two fundamental rules used to analyze circuits with multiple energy sources or
complex configurations. They are based on the conservation of charge and the conservation of
energy.

Junction Rule (Kirchhoff's Current Law - KCL)

The junction rule is based on the law of conservation of charge, which states that charge cannot be
created or destroyed.

Definition: A junction is a point in a circuit where three or more wires are connected.
Rule: The sum of the currents entering a junction must equal the sum of the currents leaving
that junction.
Equation: For a junction with currents I1 , I2 , and I3 , where I1 is entering and I2 and I3 are
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

leaving:

I1 = I2 + I3
​ ​ ​

Implication: This rule ensures that charge does not accumulate at any point in the circuit.
Example of Junction Rule: If a current of 11 A flows into a junction, and one branch leaving the 9

junction carries 4 A, then the other branch must carry:   

Itotal = I1 + I2
​ ​ ​

11 A = 4 A + I2 ​

I2 = 11 A − 4 A = 7 A
​

Loop Rule (Kirchhoff's Voltage Law - KVL)

The loop rule is based on the law of conservation of energy.

Definition: A loop is any closed path within an electric circuit.

Rule: The sum of all the changes in electric potential (voltage drops and rises) around any
closed loop in an electric circuit must be zero.
Equation: The sum of voltage rises equals the sum of voltage drops around a loop.

∑ ΔVrises = ∑ ΔVdrops ​ ​

Or, more generally:

∑ ΔVloop = 0 ​

Applying the Loop Rule: When traversing a loop, follow these conventions:

Resistor:
If traversed in the direction of the current: Voltage change is −IR.

If traversed opposite to the direction of the current: Voltage change is +IR.

Source of emf (e.g., Battery):

If traversed from negative to positive terminal (direction of potential rise): Voltage change is
+ΔV .
If traversed from positive to negative terminal (direction of potential drop): Voltage change
is −ΔV .

KVL Example: Consider a loop with a 9 V battery and a resistor R1 . If the charge travels through the ​

battery from - to +, the potential increases by 9 V. If it then travels through R1 and drops 5 V, the ​

total change in potential around the loop must be zero. This means the potential drop across R1 is ​

5 V. If there were other components in the loop, their voltage changes would be accounted for to
ensure the sum is zero. For instance, if there was another resistor R2 in the loop, the voltage drop ​

across R2 would be 9 V − 5 V = 4 V.

Complex Circuits
Complex circuits often contain combinations of components connected in series and parallel.
Analyzing these circuits involves simplifying them by identifying these series and parallel segments.

Resistors in Series
Definition: Components are in series if they provide a single path for current to flow.
Current: The current is the same through all components in series. I = I1 = I2 = I3 = … ​ ​

Potential Difference: The total potential difference across a series combination is the sum of the
potential differences across each component. ΔV = ΔV1 + ΔV2 + ΔV3 + …
​ ​

Equivalent Resistance (Req ): The equivalent resistance of resistors in series is the sum of their
​

individual resistances. The equivalent resistance is always greater than the largest individual
resistance.

Req = R1 + R2 + R3 + …
​ ​ ​ ​

ΔVtotal
Total Current: The total current in a series circuit can be found using Ohm's Law: I = Req ​
.​

Failure: If one component in a series circuit fails (e.g., a bulb burns out), it creates an open
circuit, and current stops flowing through the entire series.

Resistors in Parallel
Definition: Components are in parallel if they are connected across common points, providing
separate paths for current.
 Current: The total current entering a junction splits among the parallel branches, and the sum of 9

the currents in the branches equals the total current. Itotal ​

= I1 + I2 + I3 + …
​ ​ ​
  
Potential Difference: The potential difference across all components connected in parallel is the
same. ΔV = ΔV1 = ΔV2 = ΔV3 = …
​ ​ ​

Equivalent Resistance (Req ): The reciprocal of the equivalent resistance is the sum of the
​

reciprocals of the individual resistances. The equivalent resistance is always less than the
smallest individual resistance.

1 1 1 1
= +
​ + ​ +… ​

Req ​R1 R2​ R3 ​

Total Current: The total current in a parallel circuit can be found using Ohm's Law: Itotal = ​

ΔVtotal
Req .
​

Failure: If one component in a parallel circuit fails, the other parallel branches can still function
because they provide alternative paths for current.

Analyzing Complex Circuits

To analyze a complex circuit:

1. Identify Series and Parallel Segments: Look for groups of resistors that are clearly in series or
parallel with each other.
2. Simplify Segments: Calculate the equivalent resistance for each identified series or parallel
segment. Replace these segments with their equivalent resistances.

3. Iterate: Continue simplifying the circuit by combining new series and parallel combinations until
a single equivalent resistance for the entire circuit is found.

4. Work Backwards: Once the total equivalent resistance and total current are known, you can
work backward through the simplified circuit to find the current and potential difference across
individual components.

For components in series, the current is the same, and the voltage divides.
For components in parallel, the voltage is the same, and the current divides.

Solving for Currents using Kirchhoff's Laws

When applying Kirchhoff's rules to solve for unknown currents:

1. Assign Current Symbols and Directions: Draw your circuit diagram and assign a symbol and an
assumed direction to the current in each branch. If your assumed direction is incorrect, the
calculated current will be negative, but its magnitude will be correct.

2. Apply the Junction Rule: Write equations for each junction where currents meet, ensuring that
the sum of incoming currents equals the sum of outgoing currents.

3. Apply the Loop Rule: Choose a direction to traverse each independent loop in the circuit
(clockwise or counterclockwise). Write a KVL equation for each loop, summing voltage changes
(rises and drops) to zero, using the conventions outlined above.
4. Solve the System of Equations: You will have a system of linear equations (from both KCL and
KVL). The number of independent equations needed is equal to the number of unknown
currents. Solve this system simultaneously to find the values of the currents.

Example Problem: Complex Circuit Analysis

Problem: Determine the equivalent resistance of the complex circuit shown below. Then, find the
current and potential difference across the 2 Ω resistor.

\text{Circuit Diagram:} \begin{tikzpicture} \draw (0,0) -- (0,2) node[left] {\$9.0 \, \text{V}\$}; \draw
(0,2) -- (2,2); \draw (2,2) -- (2,0); \draw (2,0) -- (0,0); % Parallel section 1 \draw (2,2) -- (4,2); \draw
(4,2) -- (4,1); \draw (4,1) -- (6,1) node[above] {\$2.0 \, \Omega\$}; \draw (6,1) -- (6,2); \draw (6,2) --
(8,2); % Parallel section 2 (bottom) \draw (2,0) -- (4,0); \draw (4,0) -- (4,1); \draw (4,1) -- (6,1)
node[below] {\$6.0 \, \Omega\$}; % This is the junction point for the parallel resistors \draw (6,1) --
(6,0); \draw (6,0) -- (8,0); % Resistor between parallel sections \draw (8,2) -- (10,2) node[above]
{\$4.0 \, \Omega\$}; \draw (8,0) -- (10,0) node[below] {\$1.0 \, \Omega\$}; \draw (10,2) -- (10,0); %
Final resistor \draw (10,2) -- (12,2) node[above] {\$3.0 \, \Omega\$}; \draw (10,0) -- (12,0)
node[below] {\$6.0 \, \Omega\$}; \draw (12,2) -- (12,0); \end{tikzpicture}

Solution Steps:
 1. Identify the innermost parallel combination: The 2.0 Ω and 6.0 Ω resistors are in parallel. 9
  
1 1 1 3 1 4
= + = + =
2.0 Ω 6.0 Ω 6.0 Ω 6.0 Ω 6.0 Ω
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Rp1 ​

Rp1 = 6.0 Ω = 1.5 Ω

​

4
​

2. Identify the next parallel combination: The 4.0 Ω and 1.0 Ω resistors are in parallel.

1 1 1 1 4 5
= + = + =
Rp2 4.0 Ω 1.0 Ω 4.0 Ω 4.0 Ω 4.0 Ω
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Rp2 = 4.0 Ω = 0.8 Ω

​

5
​

3. Identify the outermost parallel combination: The 3.0 Ω and 6.0 Ω resistors are in parallel.

1 1 1 2 1 3
= + = + =
Rp3 3.0 Ω 6.0 Ω 6.0 Ω 6.0 Ω 6.0 Ω
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Rp3 = 6.0 Ω = 2.0 Ω

​

3
​

4. Redraw the circuit with equivalent resistances: Now the circuit can be viewed as a series
combination of Rp1 , Rp2 , and Rp3 .
​ ​ ​

Equivalent Circuit: 9.0 V − [Rp1 in series with Rp2 in series with Rp3 ] ​ ​ ​

5. Calculate the total equivalent resistance:

Req = Rp1 + Rp2 + Rp3

​ ​ ​ ​

Req = 1.5 Ω + 0.8 Ω + 2.0 Ω = 4.3 Ω

​

Current and Potential Difference across the 2 Ω Resistor:

The 2.0 Ω resistor is part of the parallel combination Rp1 . To find the current and potential ​

difference through it, we first need the total current through Rp1 . ​

1. Calculate the total current from the battery:

Itotal = ΔVtotal = 9.0 V ≈ 2.09 A

​
​

4.3 Ω
​ ​

Req ​

2. The total current from the battery flows through the entire series combination. Therefore, the
current entering the parallel combination Rp1 is Itotal . ​ ​

IRp1 = Itotal ≈ 2.09 A

​
​ ​

3. Find the potential difference across the parallel combination Rp1 : ​

ΔVRp1 = IRp1 × Rp1 ≈ 2.09 A × 1.5 Ω ≈ 3.14 V

​
​

​
​ ​

4. Since the 2.0 Ω resistor is in parallel within Rp1 , the potential difference across it is ΔVRp1 . ​

​
​

ΔV2Ω = ΔVRp1 ≈ 3.14 V ​

​
​

5. Calculate the current through the 2.0 Ω resistor:

I2Ω = ΔV2Ω ≈ 3.14 V ≈ 1.57 A

​
​

2.0 Ω 2.0 Ω
​ ​

Summary for the 2 Ω resistor:

Current: Approximately 1.57 A

Potential Difference: Approximately 3.14 V

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