Electrical Principles - Chapter 5: Kirchhoff's Current and Voltage Laws

Electrical Principles - Chapter 5: Kirchhoff's Current and Voltage Laws
Publish Date: Mar 27, 2013

Overview
The Electrical Principles/Fundamentals series present the basic theories and concepts taught at entry level electronics courses at
both 2 year and 4 year institutions. This series of content provides examples to professors to enable them to easily teach concepts
to students, who can develop a solid underlying knowledge of electronics using the NI solution. This series focuses on some of the
basic theory as well as providing the NI Multisim circuits to enable practical implementation end experimentation as homework for
students.
Table of Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
In this Chapter
Example Courses
Kirchhoffs Current Law (KCL)
Kirchhoffs Voltage Law (KVL)
Example Problem
Suggested NI Solution
References
1. In this Chapter
We begin this chapter by exploring a couple of the basic rules of circuit analysis: Kirchhoffs Current and Voltage Laws. We will
use the NI Multisim circuit teaching environment to verify our calculated results with example circuits that can be used by any
educator or student.
If you do not have NI Multisim installed on your computer, you can download a free 30 day evaluation at
http://www.ni.com/multisim/try/
2. Example Courses
Listed below are example courses that teach this concept at their schools.
Course Name
School
Learn More
Electrical
Principles
Conestoga College
http://www.conestogac.on.ca/fulltime/0071.jsp
Electronic
Technology 1
Macomb
Community College
http://www.macomb.edu/noncms/Search/Courses/coursekey.asp?coursekey=ELEC-1161)
3. Kirchhoffs Current Law (KCL)
Kirchhoffs Current Law (Kirchhoffs First Law) states that the current entering a point in a circuit is equal to the summation of the
currents exiting [1].
4. Kirchhoffs Voltage Law (KVL)
Kirchhoffs Voltage Law (Kirchhoffs second law) states that the summation of all voltage drops in a closed loop must equal to zero
which is a result of the electrostatic field being conservative [2].
5. Example Problem
Let us now examine the below circuit and apply Kirchhoffs Laws to determine the currents and voltage drops then use NI Multisim
to verify our calculated values.
STEP 1: Open circuit file kirchhoff_example.ms12. You will notice the circuit below [3].
Answer Sub-Step 1: Determine the currents I1 and I2 passing through each resistor.
1/3
www.ni.com
Answer Sub-Step 1: Determine the currents I1 and I2 passing through each resistor.
To apply KCL, begin by labelling the junctions in our circuit, J1 and J2. Then we label the currents as I, I1 and I2 in an arbitrary
direction as shown in the figure below. (Direction of currents will be confirmed once we complete the problem).
Junction J1:
I = I1 + I2 (equation 1)
Junction J2:
I1 + I2 = I (which is the exact same equation we got from J1 above)
Answer Sub-Step 2: Determine the voltage drops VR1 and VR2 across each resistor.
Begin by labelling the loops as loop A and loop B as shown below.
Loop A: (start from the upper left corner and move clockwise)
-I1 x (100 ) + 1.5V = 0 (equation 2)
Therefore: I1 = 0.015 A
Loop B:
-9V I2 x (200 ) + I1 x (100 ) = 0 (equation 3)
Substituting the value of I1 into equation 3 yields:
-9 I2 x (200 ) + (0.015)(100 ) = 0
-7.5 = (200) x I2 therefore: I2 = -0.0375 A
And then I = -0.0225 A
Note that the negative sign of the current indicates that the arbitrary direction we chose is the opposite of the actual direction the
current is flowing in.
Answer Sub-Step 3: Determine the values of VR1 and VR2 based on our calculated values for I1 and I2
VR1 = I1 x R1 = (0.015 A) x (100 ) therefore VR1 = 1.5V
VR2 = I2 x R2 = (-0.0375 A) x (200 ) therefore VR2 = -7.5V
STEP 2: Open circuit file kirchhoff_example_current.ms12 using NI Multisim then open each individual multimeter by
2/3
www.ni.com
STEP 2: Open circuit file kirchhoff_example_current.ms12 using NI Multisim then open each individual multimeter by
double-clicking on each device and choosing the A button to measure the current. Then, simulate the circuit by clicking on the run
button or choosing Simulation>>Run Simulation.
Looking at the measured values in NI Multisim we find that they are almost equal to the calculated results above and that is due
to the fact that in the real world the ammeter has its own resistance. Therefore in simulation, NI Multisim replicates that real
world behaviour to help you understand the behaviour of such equipment in the physical lab.
STEP 3: Open circuit file kirchhoff_example_voltage.ms12 using NI Multisim. Again double-click on each multimeter to open its
screen and choose V button to measure the voltage. Then, simulate the circuit.
You can see here that the voltages measured by the voltmeters are equal to the calculated results thus confirming and verifying
the KVL and KCL rules.
6. Suggested NI Solution
National Instruments offers a number of products that combine to provide a scalable and powerful teaching platform for educators.
The solution includes:
NI Multisim circuit teaching environment: Combining an intuitive circuit definition environment, with powerful SPICE simulation
technology, educators can use NI Multisim to easily teach the ins-and-outs of circuits in a safe environment.
NI ELVIS teaching and measurement platform allows educators to provide students with a compact, all-in-one unit for their
measurement and analysis needs. Combining an oscilloscope, function generator, DMM, bode analyzer and 8 other instruments
into a small platform; it simplifies the laboratory experience for students and lab instructors.
7. References
[1] University of Guelph, Department of Physics. DC Circuits. Kirchhoffs Current Law.

[http://www.physics.uoguelph.ca/tutorials/ohm/Q.ohm.KCL.html]. (18/01/2013)
[2] University of Guelph, Department of Physics. DC Circuits. Kirchhoffs Voltage Law.
[http://www.physics.uoguelph.ca/tutorials/ohm/Q.ohm.KVL.html]. (18/01/2013)
[3] Spartnotes. SAT Physics. Circuits.
[http://www.sparknotes.com/testprep/books/sat2/physics/chapter14section5.rhtml]. (18/01/2013)
3/3
www.ni.com

Electrical Principles - Chapter 5: Kirchhoff's Current and Voltage Laws

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Electrical Principles - Chapter 5: Kirchhoff's Current and Voltage Laws

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Electrical Principles - Chapter 5: Kirchhoff's Current and Voltage Laws

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Electrical Principles - Chapter 5: Kirchhoff's Current and Voltage Laws

Publish Date: Mar 27, 2013

3. Kirchhoffs Current Law (KCL)

[1] University of Guelph, Department of Physics. DC Circuits. Kirchhoffs Current Law.

You might also like