Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL)

I. Charge (current flow) conservation law

(the Kirchhoff’s Current law)

e 2
Pip
Pipe 1
Pip
e3

Total volume of water per second flowing through pipe 1 =

total volume of water per second flowing through pipe 2 +
total volume of water per second flowing through pipe 3
 I. Charge (current flow) conservation law
(the Kirchhoff’s Current law)

I2
I1

I3

Total current (charge per second) entering the node through the
wire 1 =

total current leaving the node through the wire 2 +

total current leaving the node through the wire 3
 Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL)

"The algebraic sum

of all currents entering and leaving a node
must equal zero"

Σ (Entering
( Currents) = Σ (Leaving
( Currents)

Established in 1847 by Gustav R. Kirchhoff

 KCL Example 1

R2
I0 =10 mA I2 =?

I1= 4 mA
The rest of the
circuit
V0 R1

Entering current: I0
I2 = I0 – I1;
Leaving currents: I1, I2
I2 =10 mA – 4 mA = 6 mA
I0 = I1 + I2;
 KCL Example 2

A B Network fragment

I0 I1 I3

I2
I4

I1= 2 mA I3= 0.5 mA

I2 = 5 mA Considering node A: Considering node B:
I0 = ? I0 = I1+I2 = 7 mA I4 = ? I4 = I1- I3 = 2 mA – 0.5 mA
= 1.5 mA

• KCL can be applied to any single node of the network.

• KCL is valid for any circuit component: diode, resistor, transistor etc.
 Problem 1
R1 R2 R3 R4

I0 IC1 IC2 IC3 I4

T1 T2 T3
I0 = 20 mA
IC1 = 4 mA; IC2 = 3 mA; IC3 = 2 mA Find the current I4 in mA

0
of
40

180
Timed response
 Circuits with multiple sources

+ +
VB1 VB2
- -

In circuits with more than one source, the current directions are not obvious up front.

+ +
VB1 VB2
- -

+ +
VB1 VB2
- -
The actual current directions depend on the potential profile in the circuit.

ϕ1 = 8 V; ϕ2 = 4.5 V;

12V 6V

Suppose the potentials are known. Then the current directions are as shown.

(Of course, knowing the potentials requires solving the circuit!)

For different potential distribution, the current directions could be different:

ϕ1 = 7 V; ϕ2 = 9 V;

6V 12V

Suppose the potentials are known. Then the current directions are as shown.

(Of course, knowing the potentials requires solving the circuit!)

 The actual current direction
depends on the potential difference across the component

ϕ1 = 7 V ϕ2 = 2 V

1 2
R=1k
I

V ϕ −ϕ
V12 = ϕ1 – ϕ2 I12 = 12 = 1 2
R R

If ϕ1 > ϕ2, the current 5 mA flows from the node #1 to the node #2
 The actual current direction
depends on the potential difference across the component

ϕ1 = 7 V ϕ2 = 12 V

1 2
R=1k

V21 ϕ2 − ϕ1 12V − 7V +5 mA
V21 = ϕ2 – ϕ1 I 21 = = = = 5mA
R R 1k

If ϕ1 < ϕ2, the actual current 5 mA flows from node #2 to node #1

We can also say that, the current defined as flowing from node#1 to node# 2
is negative in this case.

V12 ϕ1 − ϕ2 7V −12V - 5 mA
V12 = ϕ1 – ϕ2 I12 = = = = − 5mA < 0
R R 1k
 General form of KCL

Σ (Entering)
( = Σ (Leaving)
(
Σ (Entering)
( - Σ (Leaving)
( =0
Assigning positive signs to the currents entering the node and
negative signs to the currents leaving the node, the KCL can be
re-formulated as:
Σ (All
( currents at the node) = 0
 Problem 2
I2
I1 I1 = 1 A
I2 = 3 A
I4 I3 = 0.5 A

I3 Find the current I4 in A

0
of
40

120
Timed response
 Problem 2

I2 I1 = 4 A
I1
I2 = 3 A

I4 I3 = 0.5 A

Find the current I4 in A

I3

0
of
40

120
Timed response
 Parallel Circuits

The defining characteristic of a parallel circuit is that all components are

connected between the same two wires (ideal conductors).
In a parallel circuit, the voltages across all
the components are the same, no matter
how many components are connected.

There could be many paths for currents to

flow.
 Simple parallel circuits

E=

The voltage drops are equal across all the components in the circuit.
Why?
V12 = V23 = V34 =0 (voltage drops across the wires = 0)

φ1 = φ2 = φ3 = φ4 = E;
Similarly,

φ5 = φ6 = φ7 = φ8 = 0 ;
From these: V27 = V36= V45 = E;
 Currents in the parallel circuits

E=

Using the Ohm’s law:

I1 = V27/R1 = E/R1
I2 = V36/R2 = E/R2
I3 = V45/R3 = E/R3
 Currents in the parallel circuits

What is the total current in the circuit?

IT I1 I2 I3

E=

Now apply the KCL, SUM (Currents) = 0

IT – I1 – I2 – I3 = 0;
IT = I1 + I2 + I3 = E/R1+ E/R2+ E/R3 = E×(1/R1+ 1/R2+ 1/R3)
 Currents in the parallel circuits

IT I1 I2 I3

E=

I1 = V27/R1 = E/R1 = 9V/10kΩ = 0.9 mA

I2 = V36/R2 = E/R2 = 9V/2kΩ = 4.5 mA
I3 = V45/R3 = E/R3 = 9V/1kΩ = 9 mA
IT = 0.9 + 4.5+ 9 = 14.4 mA
 Equivalent resistance for parallel circuits

IT I1 I2 I3
E= REQ

IT = I1 + I2 + I3;
IT = E×(1/R1+ 1/R2+ 1/R3)
Let us replace the part of network containing R1, R2 and R3 with a
single resistor RT. Then IT = E/REQ (the Ohm’s law)

If some resistors in the network or a part of it, are

connected in parallel, then the equivalent resistance is:
1/REQP = 1/R1 + 1/R2+1/R3
 Equivalent resistance for parallel circuits

IT I1 I2 I3
E=

1/REQP = 1/R1 + 1/R2+1/R3

Note: G = 1 / R;
GT = G1 + G2 + G3

Another formulation of the parallel connection rule:

the equivalent conductance = sum (all the parallel conductances)
When the circuit contains only two parallel resistors:

The equivalent resistance

1/REQ = 1/R1 + 1/R2

1 1 1 R1 + R2
= + =
REQ R1 R2 R1 R2
R1 R2
REQ =
R1 + R2
Current division in a parallel circuit

E
I1 =
R1

E
I2 =
R2

I1 R2 I1 G1
= =
I 2 R1 I 2 G2