EXPERIMENT NO.

1: DATE :_10/12/2020_

AIM: TO ANALYSE KIRCHHOFF’S CURRENT AND VOLTAGE LAWS

LEARNING OUTCOME:
After performing this experiment, students will be able to understand the concept of Kirchhoff's
laws.

APPARATUS:
Equipment Specification Qty
AC Voltmeter 0 - 300 V 4 nos.
AC Ammeter 0 - 10 A 4 nos.
Load Bank 5 A, 230V 1 nos.
Single Phase Variac 2.16 KVA, 230V 1 no.

THEORY:
Electrical resistance is the property of a material which opposes the flow of electric current through
it. Conductors have low resistance while insulators have very high resistance. Electrical resistance
shares some conceptual parallels with the mechanical motion of friction. The SI unit of electrical
resistance is the ohm (Ω). An object of uniform cross section has a resistance proportional to
its resistivity and length and inversely proportional to its cross-sectional area. All materials show
some resistance, except for superconductors, which have zero resistance. The resistance (R) of an
object is defined as the ratio of voltage across it (V) to current through it (I). German physicist
named Gustav Robert Kirchhoff’s found two laws known as Current law and Voltage law. These
laws are useful for determining equivalent resistance and current flowing through each resistance
of complex electrical network.
Kirchhoff’s Current Law
“In any electrical network, the algebraic sum of the currents meeting at a junction is zero”
It simply means that total current leaving a junction is equal to the total current entering that
junction. It is true because there is no accumulation of charge at the junction of the network.
Consider the case of few conductors meeting at a point. Assume incoming current to be positive
and outgoing current to be negative. (I is incoming current and I1, I2, I3 and I4 are outgoing
currents.)

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 Figure - 1
I + (-I1) + (-I2) + (-I3) + (-I4) = 0
I = I1 + I2 + I3 + I4
Summation of Incoming Currents = Summation of Outgoing Currents

A1 A2 A3

230 V, 50 Hz

B
Y
R

Single Phase
Load

Load

Load
AC Supply
R’

B
Y

’
’

Single phase
Variac

Figure-2
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law

“The algebraic sum of the voltage drop across each resistance plus algebraic sum of each emf in
a closed electrical circuit is zero.”
It simply means that all the emf sources met on the way necessarily be equal to the voltage drops
across resistance. In applying Kirchhoff’s Voltage law attention should be paid to the algebraic
signs of voltage drops and emf.

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 I1 R1

I4 I2

R4 R2

E1 E2

I3 R3

Figure - 3
Using Kirchhoff’s Voltage law, (Moving clockwise)
- I1R1 -I2R2 +I3R3 -I4R4 -E2 +E1 = 0
I1R1 +I2R2 -I3R3 +I4R4 = E1 –E2
V1 V2 V3

A R
Load
R’ Y
Load
Y B
Load
B
’ ’
230 V, 50 Hz
Single Phase
AC Supply V

Single phase
Variac

Figure-4
PROCEDURE:
For Kirchhoff’s Current Law
1. Connect the circuit as per shown in the diagram.
2. Switch ON the supply & adjust the load.
3. Vary the loads in steps.
4. Note the reading of ammeter A1, A2, A3 in the observation table.

For Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law

1) Connect the circuit as per shown in the diagram.
2) Switch ON the supply & adjust the load.
3) Vary the loads in steps.
4) Note the reading of voltmeter V1, V2, V3 in the observation table.

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OBSERVATION TABLE:
For Kirchhoff’s Current Law

Supply Sum of Current at

Ammeter Reading
Voltage Node
Sr. (Amp)
V (Amp)
No
(Volt)
A1 A2 A3

1 220 V 1.71 A 1.52 A 1.11 A 4.34 A

2 220 V 0.95 A 0.77 A 0.51 A 2.23 A

3 215 V 2.69 A 2.49 A 2.10 A 7.30 A

For Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law

Voltmeter Reading Sum of Voltmeter

Voltage Current (Volt) (Volt)
Sr.
V I
No
(Volt) (Amp) V1 V2 V3 V1 + V2 + V3

1 230 V 0.39 A 39 V 131 V 58 V 228 V

2 230 V 0.80 A 50 V 115 V 61 V 226 V

3 226 V 1.40 A 60 V 95 V 68 V 223 V

4 226 V 2.19 A 68 V 93 V 62 V 223 V

PRECAUTION:
1. Before making connections check that main switch is OFF.
2. All connections must be proper and tight.
3. The value of resistances should be maximum at the starting.

CONCLUSION:
From analyzing Kirchhoff’s Current Law and Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law, we conclude that:
1. In any electrical network, the algebraic sum of the currents meeting at a junction is
zero.
2. The algebraic sum of the voltage drop across each resistance plus algebraic sum of each
emf in a closed electrical circuit is zero.
Hence Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL) and Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL) are true.

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QUIZ:

Que1. State and explain Ohm’s law with its limitation.

Answer:
 Ohm’s law statement: The Ohm’s law states that the potential difference across a
conductor is directly proportional to the current flowing through the conductor, given that
the temperature of the conductor remains constant.
i.e. V∝I
or V = RI
Where, V = Potential difference across the conductor
I = Current flowing through the conductor
R = Constant of proportionality called the Resistance of the conductor

 The Ohm’s law can also be written as

V
I = Ampere
R

 Ohm’s law gives the relationship between the current flowing through a conductor and the
potential difference across the conductor. In short, it gives the volt - ampere relationship
for an element. The law can be applied to the whole circuit or a part of it in which the
current is flowing. Also, Ohm’s law can be applied to AC circuits, which have
unidirectional source.

 There are mainly two limitations of Ohm’s law. They are as follows:
1) Ohm’s law is not applicable to any non - linear element such as diode transistor,
Zener diode, Electric arc, etc. In the case of non – linear elements current is not
exactly proportional to the applied voltage.
2) Ohm’s law is not applicable in the case of unilateral circuits. When an electrical
circuit changes its properties with the change in the direction of flow of current,
then this type of circuit is known as unilateral circuit. Example: Electrical circuits
containing elements like diodes and transistors.
Also the electrical elements in the circuit which don’t obey Ohm’s law are specially
referred to as Non – Ohmic conductors.

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Que2. Can we apply KCL and KVL to AC circuits? Justify the same.
Answer:
 Kirchhoff’s current law (KCL) and Kirchhoff’s voltage law (KVL) are based on the “Law
of Conservation of Charge” and the “Law of Conservation of Energy” respectively. We
know that the “Law of Conservation of Charge” and the “Law of Conservation of Energy”
are universal in nature. Nowhere KCL or KVL state the requirement of a particular type
of current or voltage source, whether AC or DC. So, we can definitely apply KCL and
KVL to AC circuits. However in the case of alternating currents and voltages, any e.m.f.
of self-inductance or that existing across a capacitor should be also taken into account. In
the case of application of these laws on AC circuits, we have to consider the impedance of
the circuit as well.

Que3. Why the information of resistance's power rating is important for this experiment?
Answer:
 When current passes through electrical elements like resistors, Electrical power is
absorbed by it, and the resistor generates energy in form of heat to dissipate this power.
The power rating of a resistance is a specification given to that resistance which tells us
the maximum amount of power that the particular resistor can withstand. While
conducting an experiment, We need to perform it in such a way that the experiment causes
no harm to the equipment as well as to the people conducting it, so by knowing the
resistance’s power rating we can make sure that we do not allow those values of electric
current to pass through the resistor that can damage (melt and short circuit) it and can lead
to even more significant hazards for the circuit and the people conducting the experiment.

 In this experiment too we should keep the resistance's power rating in mid while
conducting the experiment, so that we don’t harm anyone or anything.

Que4. Compare series and parallel connection with all techno-commercial aspects.
Answer:
 Series and parallel connections are the two ways in which multiple electrical elements can
be connected with each other. Both the connection come with their own set of advantages
and disadvantages. Below is a network of resistances illustrating parallel and series
connection of resistances.

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 Sr, Series Connection Parallel Connection
No.
1. Current flowing through all the Voltage across all the electrical
electrical elements (for instance elements (for instance resistances) is
resistances) is the same. the same.

2. The electrical elements are connected The starting ends of all electrical
in end-to-end manner. elements are connected together at a
point and their other ends are
connected together to another point.
In short, all components are
connected between the same set of
electrically common points.

3. Equivalent resistance for n resistances Equivalent resistance for n

connected in series is given by, resistances connected in parallel is
Req = R1 + R2 +R3 + … + Rn given by,
1/Req = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 + … +
1/Rn

4. Total voltage applied across the series Total current in the circuit is the sum
circuit is the sum of voltage drops of currents through the individual
across the individual electrical branches containing electrical
elements i.e., V = V1 + V2 + V3 + … elements i.e.,
+ Vn I = I1 + I2 + I3 + … + In

5. Equivalent resistance, Req is always Equivalent resistance, Req is always

higher than any of the individual less than the smallest value of
resistances connected in series in the resistance connected in parallel in the
series network. network.

6. Used in making chain of small lights Used in domestic wiring where all
used for decoration in homes and the appliances need the same voltage
office spaces. for their operation.

 We see that all the instances where techno-commercial activities are to be performed, we
generally use parallel connection instead of series connection and there are valid reasons
for such a decision. We generally need constant i.e., same voltage across all the equipment
we are operating, since only parallel connection can provide us that benefit that’s why we
use such connection in case of techno-commercial aspects. Also, if one of the equipment
stops working, in the case of series connection all the other equipment will too stop
working too because there will not be a closed path for current to travel whereas in the
case of parallel connection, other equipment continue to operate even if one fails to do so.
These advantages make parallel connection of electrical networks more suitable for
techno-commercial aspects.

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Que5. Explain current divider rule and voltage divider rule.
Answer:
 Current divider rule:
Current divider rule can be derived for a parallel connection of resistances and can be
used to directly find out the currents flowing through individual resistances.

Therefore, the current through a resistor in parallel combination of two resistors is equal
to (Resistance of opposite resistor ÷ Sum of resistances of two resistors) × Total current.

 Voltage divider rule:

Voltage divider rule can be derived for a series connection of resistances and can be used
to directly find out the voltage through individual resistances.

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 Therefore, the voltage across a resistance is equal to the applied voltage times the ratio
of that resistance to the total resistance (Req), also the use of voltage division rule
eliminates calculations for current when determining voltage across resistances.