;;\KIRCHHOFF’S CURRENT LAW

Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL) is Kirchhoff’s first law that deals with the conservation of
charge entering and leaving a junction.

To determine the amount or magnitude of the electrical current flowing around

an electrical or electronic circuit, we need to use certain laws or rules that
allows us to write down these currents in the form of an equation. The network
equations used are those according to Kirchhoff’s laws, and as we are dealing
with circuit currents, we will be looking at Kirchhoff’s current law, (KCL).
Gustav Kirchhoff’s Current Law is one of the fundamental laws used for
circuit analysis. His current law states that for a parallel path the total current
entering a circuits junction is exactly equal to the total current leaving
the same junction. This is because it has no other place to go as no charge
is lost.
In other words the algebraic sum of ALL the currents entering and leaving a
junction must be equal to zero as: Σ IIN = Σ IOUT.
This idea by Kirchhoff is commonly known as the Conservation of Charge,
as the current is conserved around the junction with no loss of current. Lets
look at a simple example of Kirchhoff’s current law (KCL) when applied to a
single junction.
A SINGLE JUNCTION

Here in this simple single junction example, the current IT leaving the junction
is the algebraic sum of the two currents, I1 and I2 entering the same junction.
That is IT = I1 + I2.
Note that we could also write this correctly as the algebraic sum
of: IT – (I1 + I2) = 0.
So if I1 equals 3 amperes and I2 is equal to 2 amperes, then the total current,
IT leaving the junction will be 3 + 2 = 5 amperes, and we can use this basic law
for any number of junctions or nodes as the sum of the currents both entering
and leaving will be the same.
Also, if we reversed the directions of the currents, the resulting equations
would still hold true for I1 or I2. As I1 = IT – I2 = 5 – 2 = 3 amps, and
I2 = IT – I1 = 5 – 3 = 2 amps. Thus we can think of the currents entering the
junction as being positive (+), while the ones leaving the junction as being
negative (-).
Then we can see that the mathematical sum of the currents either entering or
leaving the junction and in whatever direction will always be equal to zero, and
this forms the basis of Kirchhoff’s Junction Rule, more commonly known
as Kirchhoff’s Current Law, or (KCL).

Resistors in Parallel
Let’s look how we could apply Kirchhoff’s current law to resistors in parallel,
whether the resistances in those branches are equal or unequal. Consider the
following circuit diagram:
In this simple parallel resistor example there are two distinct junctions for
current. Junction one occurs at node B, and junction two occurs at node E.
Thus we can use Kirchhoff’s Junction Rule for the electrical currents at both of
these two distinct junctions, for those currents entering the junction and for
those currents flowing leaving the junction.
To start, all the current, IT leaves the 24 volt supply and arrives at point A and
from there it enters node B. Node B is a junction as the current can now split
into two distinct directions, with some of the current flowing downwards and
through resistor R1 with the remainder continuing on through resistor R2 via
node C. Note that the currents flowing into and out of a node point are
commonly called branch currents.
We can use Ohm’s Law to determine the individual branch currents through
each resistor as: I = V/R, thus:
For current branch B to E through resistor R1

For current branch C to D through resistor R2

From above we know that Kirchhoff’s current law states that the sum of the
currents entering a junction must equal the sum of the currents leaving the
junction, and in our simple example above, there is one current, IT going into
the junction at node B and two currents leaving the junction, I1 and I2.
Since we now know from calculation that the currents leaving the junction at
node B is I1 equals 3 amps and I2 equals 2 amps, the sum of the currents
entering the junction at node B must equal 3 + 2 = 5 amps. Thus ΣIN = IT = 5
amperes.
In our example, we have two distinct junctions at node B and node E, thus we
can confirm this value for IT as the two currents recombine again at node E.
So, for Kirchhoff’s junction rule to hold true, the sum of the currents into point
F must equal the sum of the currents flowing out of the junction at node E.
As the two currents entering junction E are 3 amps and 2 amps respectively,
the sum of the currents entering point F is therefore: 3 + 2 = 5 amperes. Thus
ΣIN = IT = 5 amperes and therefore Kirchhoff’s current law holds true as this is
the same value as the current leaving point A.

Applying KCL to more complex circuits.

We can use Kirchhoff’s current law to find the currents flowing around more
complex circuits. We hopefully know by now that the algebraic sum of all the
currents at a node (junction point) is equal to zero and with this idea in mind, it
is a simple case of determining the currents entering a node and those leaving
the node. Consider the circuit below.

KIRCHHOFF’S CURRENT LAW EXAMPLE NO1

In this example there are four distinct junctions for current to either separate
or merge together at nodes A, C, E and node F. The supply current
IT separates at node A flowing through resistors R1 and R2, recombining at
node C before separating again through resistors R3, R4 and R5 and finally
recombining once again at node F.
But before we can calculate the individual currents flowing through each
resistor branch, we must first calculate the circuits total current, IT. Ohms law
tells us that I = V/R and as we know the value of V, 132 volts, we need to
calculate the circuit resistances as follows.
Circuit Resistance RAC

The equivalent circuit resistance between nodes A and C is calculated as 1

Ohm.

Circuit Resistance RCF

Thus the equivalent circuit resistance between nodes C and F is calculated as

10 Ohms. Then the total circuit current, IT is given as:
Giving us an equivalent circuit of:

Kirchhoff’s Current Law Equivalent Circuit

Therefore, V = 132V, RAC = 1Ω, RCF = 10Ω’s and IT = 12A.

Having established the equivalent parallel resistances and supply current, we
can now calculate the individual branch currents and confirm using Kirchhoff’s
junction rule as follows.
Thus, I1 = 5A, I2 = 7A, I3 = 2A, I4 = 6A, and I5 = 4A.
We can confirm that Kirchoff’s current law holds true around the circuit by
using node C as our reference point to calculate the currents entering and
leaving the junction as:
We can also double check to see if Kirchhoffs Current Law holds true as the
currents entering the junction are positive, while the ones leaving the junction
are negative, thus the algebraic sum is: I1 + I2 – I3 – I4 – I5 = 0 which equals 5 +
7 – 2 – 6 – 4 = 0.
So we can confirm by analysis that Kirchhoff’s current law (KCL) which states
that the algebraic sum of the currents at a junction point in a circuit network is
always zero is true and correct in this example.

Kirchhoff’s Current Law Example No2

Find the currents flowing around the following circuit using Kirchhoff’s Current
Law only.

IT is the total current flowing around the circuit driven by the 12V supply
voltage. At point A, I1 is equal to IT, thus there will be an I1*R voltage drop
across resistor R1.
The circuit has 2 branches, 3 nodes (B, C and D) and 2 independent loops,
thus the I*R voltage drops around the two loops will be:
 Loop ABC ⇒ 12 = 4I1 + 6I2
 Loop ABD ⇒ 12 = 4I1 + 12I3
Since Kirchhoff’s current law states that at node B, I1 = I2 + I3, we can therefore
substitute current I1 for (I2 + I3) in both of the following loop equations and then
simplify.

Kirchhoff’s Loop Equations

We now have two simultaneous equations that relate to the currents flowing
around the circuit.
Eq. No 1 : 12 = 10I2 + 4I3
Eq. No 2 : 12 = 4I2 + 16I3
By multiplying the first equation (Loop ABC) by 4 and subtracting Loop ABD
from Loop ABC, we can be reduced both equations to give us the values
of I2 and I3
Eq. No 1 : 12 = 10I2 + 4I3 ( x4 ) ⇒ 48 = 40I2 + 16I3
Eq. No 2 : 12 = 4I2 + 16I3 ( x1 ) ⇒ 12 = 4I2 + 16I3
Eq. No 1 – Eq. No 2 ⇒ 36 = 36I2 + 0
Substitution of I2 in terms of I3 gives us the value of I2 as 1.0 Amps
Now we can do the same procedure to find the value of I3 by multiplying the
first equation (Loop ABC) by 4 and the second equation (Loop ABD) by 10.
Again by subtracting Loop ABC from Loop ABD, we can be reduced both
equations to give us the values of I2 and I3
Eq. No 1 : 12 = 10I2 + 4I3 ( x4 ) ⇒ 48 = 40I2 + 16I3
Eq. No 2 : 12 = 4I2 + 16I3 ( x10 ) ⇒ 120 = 40I2 + 160I3
Eq. No 2 – Eq. No 1 ⇒ 72 = 0 + 144I3
Thus substitution of I3 in terms of I2 gives us the value of I3 as 0.5 Amps
As Kirchhoff’s junction rule states that : I1 = I2 + I3
The supply current flowing through resistor R1 is given
as : 1.0 + 0.5 = 1.5 Amps
Thus I1 = IT = 1.5 Amps, I2 = 1.0 Amps and I3 = 0.5 Amps and from that
information we could calculate the I*R voltage drops across the devices and at
the various points (nodes) around the circuit.
We could have solved the circuit of example two simply and easily just using
Ohm’s Law, but we have used Kirchhoff’s Current Law here to show how it is
possible to solve more complex circuits when we can not just simply apply
Ohm’s Law.
KIRCHHOFF’S VOLTAGE LAW

Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL) is Kirchhoff’s second law that deals with the
conservation of energy around a closed circuit path.

Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law is the second of his fundamental laws we can use for
circuit analysis. His voltage law states that for a closed loop series path the
algebraic sum of all the voltages around any closed loop in a circuit is equal to
zero. This is because a circuit loop is a closed conducting path so no energy is lost.
In other words the algebraic sum of ALL the potential differences around the loop
must be equal to zero as: ΣV = 0. Note here that the term “algebraic sum” means to
take into account the polarities and signs of the sources and voltage drops around
the loop.
This idea by Kirchhoff is commonly known as the Conservation of Energy, as
moving around a closed loop, or circuit, you will end up back to where you started
in the circuit and therefore back to the same initial potential with no loss of voltage
around the loop. Hence any voltage drops around the loop must be equal to any
voltage sources met along the way.
So when applying Kirchhoff’s voltage law to a specific circuit element, it is
important that we pay special attention to the algebraic signs, (+ and -) of the
voltage drops across elements and the emf’s of sources otherwise our calculations
may be wrong.
But before we look more closely at Kirchhoff’s voltage law (KVL) lets first
understand the voltage drop across a single element such as a resistor.
A Single Circuit Element

For this simple example we will assume that the current, I is in the same direction
as the flow of positive charge, that is conventional current flow.
Here the flow of current through the resistor is from point A to point B, that is
from positive terminal to a negative terminal. Thus as we are travelling in the same
direction as current flow, there will be a fall in potential across the resistive
element giving rise to a -IR voltage drop across it.
If the flow of current was in the opposite direction from point B to point A, then
there would be a rise in potential across the resistive element as we are moving
from a - potential to a + potential giving us a +I*R voltage drop.
Thus to apply Kirchhoff’s voltage law correctly to a circuit, we must first
understand the direction of the polarity and as we can see, the sign of the voltage
drop across the resistive element will depend on the direction of the current
flowing through it. As a general rule, you will loose potential in the same direction
of current across an element and gain potential as you move in the direction of an
emf source.
The direction of current flow around a closed circuit can be assumed to be either
clockwise or anticlockwise and either one can be chosen. If the direction chosen is
different from the actual direction of current flow, the result will still be correct
and valid but will result in the algebraic answer having a minus sign.
To understand this idea a little more, lets look at a single circuit loop to see if
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law holds true.
A Single Circuit Loop

Kirchhoff’s voltage law states that the algebraic sum of the potential differences in
any loop must be equal to zero as: ΣV = 0. Since the two resistors, R1 and R2 are
wired together in a series connection, they are both part of the same loop so the
same current must flow through each resistor.
Thus the voltage drop across resistor, R1 = I*R1 and the voltage drop across
resistor, R2 = I*R2 giving by KVL:

We can see that applying Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law to this single closed loop
produces the formula for the equivalent or total resistance in the series circuit and
we can expand on this to find the values of the voltage drops around the loop.
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law Example No1
Three resistor of values: 10 ohms, 20 ohms and 30 ohms, respectively are
connected in series across a 12 volt battery supply. Calculate: a) the total
resistance, b) the circuit current, c) the current through each resistor, d) the voltage
drop across each resistor, e) verify that Kirchhoff’s voltage law, KVL holds true.
Solution :

a) Total Resistance (RT)

RT = R1 + R2 + R3 = 10Ω + 20Ω + 30Ω = 60Ω
Then the total circuit resistance RT is equal to 60Ω

b) Circuit Current (I)

Thus the total circuit current I is equal to 0.2 amperes or 200mA

c) Current Through Each Resistor
The resistors are wired together in series, they are all part of the same loop and
therefore each experience the same amount of current. Thus:
IR1 = IR2 = IR3 = ISERIES = 0.2 amperes

d) Voltage Drop Across Each Resistor

VR1 = I x R1 = 0.2 x 10 = 2 volts
VR2 = I x R2 = 0.2 x 20 = 4 volts
VR3 = I x R3 = 0.2 x 30 = 6 volts

e) Verify Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law

Thus Kirchhoff’s voltage law holds true as the individual voltage drops around the
closed loop add up to the total.
KIRCHHOFF’S CIRCUIT LOOP
 We have seen here that Kirchhoff’s voltage law, KVL is Kirchhoff’s second law and
states that the algebraic sum of all the voltage drops, as you go around a closed
circuit from some fixed point and return back to the same point, and taking
polarity into account, is always zero. That is ΣV = 0
The theory behind Kirchhoff’s second law is also known as the law of conservation
of voltage, and this is particularly useful for us when dealing with series circuits, as
series circuits also act as voltage dividers and the voltage divider circuit is an
important application of many series circuits.