Kirchoffs Circuit Laws
Presentation by
Donald Gunn BEng (Hons), MIET
Kirchoffs Circuit Laws
Gustav Robert Kirchhoff
was a German physicist
who contributed to the
fundamental
understanding of
electrical circuits,
spectroscopy, and the
emission of black-body
radiation by heated
objects.
Kirchoffs First Law
Kirchoffs Current Law
States:
At any instant the algebraic sum of the current at a
junction in a network is zero.
In other words the algebraic sum of all the currents
entering and leaving a junction must be equal to zero.
I(entering) + I(exiting) = 0
Kirchoffs First Law
Kirchoffs Current Law
This idea by Kirchoff is commonly known as the Conservation of Charge.
Kirchoffs Second Law
Kirchoffs Voltage Law
States:
At any instant in a closed loop, the algebraic sum of the e.m.f.s
acting round the loop is equal to the algebraic sum of the p.d.s
round the loop.
In other words the algebraic sum of all voltages within the loop
must be equal to zero.
This idea by Kirchoff is known as the Conservation of Energy.
Common DC Circuit Theory Terms
• Circuit – a circuit is a closed loop conducting path in which an electrical
current flows.
• Path - a single line of conducting elements or sources.
• Node - a node is a junction, connection or terminal within a circuit where
two or more circuits elements are connected or joined together
giving a connection point between two or more branches. A node
is indicated by a dot.
• Branch - a branch is a single or group of components such as resistors or a
source which are connected between two nodes.
• Loop - a loop is a simple closed path in a circuit in which no circuit
element or node is encountered more than once.
Kirchoffs Voltage Law
Describe how it is applied to the network below
Using Kirchoffs Current Law
Nodes
Current Equations
At node A: I1 + I2 = I3
At node B: I3 = I1 + I2
Using Kirchoffs Voltage Law
Loops
Using Kirchoffs Voltage Law
Loop 1
Let R1 = 10 ohms
R2 = 40 ohms
R3 = 20 ohms
E1 = 10 volts
E2 = 20 volts
Voltage Equation
Loop 1 is given as: E1 = R1 x I1 + R2 x I3
E1 = R1I1 + R2I3
10 = 10I1 + 40I3
Using Kirchoffs Voltage Law
Loop 2
Let R1 = 10 ohms
R2 = 40 ohms
R3 = 20 ohms
E1 = 10 volts
E2 = 20 volts
Voltage Equation
Loop 2 is given as: E 2 = R 3 x I2 + R 2 x I3
E 2 = R 3 I2 + R 2 I3
20 = 20I2 + 40I3
Using Kirchoffs Voltage Law
Loop 3
Let R1 = 10 ohms
R2 = 40 ohms
R3 = 20 ohms
E1 = 10 volts
E2 = 20 volts
Voltage Equation
Loop 3 is given as: E 1 - E 2 = R 1 x I1 – R 3 x I 2
E 1 - E 2 = R 1 I1 – R 3 I2
10 – 20 = 10I1 – 20I2
Equations
Current Equations
At node A: I1 + I2 = I3
At node B: I3 = I1 + I2
Voltage Equations
Loop 1 is given as: E1 = R1I1 + R2I3 or 10 = 10I1 + 40I3
Loop 2 is given as: E2 = R3I2 + R2I3 or 20 = 20I2 + 40I3
Loop 3 is given as: E1 - E2 = R1I1 – R3 I2 or 10 – 20 = 10I1 – 20I2
Rewrite Equations
As I3 is the sum of I1 + I2 we can rewrite equations as:
Loop 1:
E1 = R1I1 + R2I3 or 10 = 10I1 + 40I3
E1 = R1I1 + R2(I1+ I2) or 10 = 10I1 + 40(I1 + I2)
E1 = R1I1 + R2I1+ R2I2 or 10 = 10I1 + 40I1 + 40I2
Eq. No1: E1 = I1(R1 + R2) + R2I2 or 10 = 50I1 + 40I2
Rewrite Equations
As I3 is the sum of I1 + I2 we can rewrite equations as:
Loop 2:
E2 = R3I2 + R2I3 or 20 = 20I2 + 40I3
20 = 20I2 + 40(I1 + I2)
20 = 20I2 + 40I1 + 40I2
Eq. No 2 20 = 40I1 + 60I2
Two Simultaneous Equations
Eq. No1: 10 = 50I1 + 40I2
Eq. No 2 20 = 40I1 + 60I2
Solve: (10 = 50I1 + 40I2) x 4 = 40 = 200I1 + 160I2 (Eq.1)
(20 = 40I1 + 60I2) x 5 = 100 = 200I1 + 300I2 (Eq.2)
(Eq.2) - (Eq.1) = 60 = 140I2
I2 = 60 ÷ 140
I2 = 0.429 Amps
Two Simultaneous Equations
Eq. No1: 10 = 50I1 + 40I2
Eq. No 2 20 = 40I1 + 60I2
Solve: (10 = 50I1 + 40I2) x 3 = 30 = 150I1 + 120I2 (Eq.1)
(20 = 40I1 + 60I2) x 2 = 40 = 80I1 + 120I2 (Eq.2)
(Eq.2) - (Eq.1) = -10 = 70I1
I1 = -10 ÷ 70
I1 = - 0.143 Amps
Solving Current Equation
As: I1 + I2 = I3
I1 = - 0.143 A
I2 = 0.429 A
I3 = - 0.143 + 0.429 = 0.286 Amps
Voltage across the resistor R3 is given as 0.286 x 40 = 11.44 Volts
The negative sign means that the direction of current flow initially chosen was
wrong but never less still valid.
In fact the 20V battery is charging the 10V battery.
Application of Kirchoffs Circuit Laws
1. Assume all voltages and resistances are given (If not label them V1, V2,
... R1, R2, etc.)
2. Label each Branch with branch Current ( I1, I2, I3, etc.)
3. Find Kirchoffs first Law equations for each node.
4. Find Kirchoffs second Law equations for each of the independent loops
of the circuit.
5. Use linear simultaneous equations as required to find the unknown
currents.
