Kirchhoff’s Laws

These laws are more comprehensive than Ohm’s law and are used for solving electrical networks which
may not be readily solved by the latter. Kirchhoff’s laws, two in number, are particularly useful in:
(a) Determining the equivalent resistance of a complicated network of conductors and

(b) Calculating the currents flowing in the various conductors. The two-laws are:

1. Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL)

It states as follows: “In any electrical network, the algebraic sum of the currents meeting at a point (or
junction)is zero.”
Put in another way, it simply means that, ”the total current leaving a junction is equal to the total
current entering that junction.” It is obviously true because there is no accumulation of charge at the
junction of the network.

How to perform Nodal and Mesh Analysis?

The following are the steps to perform Nodal Analysis based on Kirchoff’s Current law.

 Assign an arbitrary value of the voltage at each node in the circuit.

 Apply KCL to each node.
 Calculate branch currents.
 Perform mathematical calculations and obtain voltage at the node.

In Fig (a) below assuming the incoming currents to be positive and the outgoing currents negative:

(a) Fig Currents at a junction (b)

Similarly, in Fig.(b) for node A

Example: In Fig below, solve for the branch currents I1 and I2.

Solution:

The applied voltage, VA, of 15 V is across both resistors R 1 and R2 (resistors in parallel). Therefore, the
branch currents are calculated as;

Example: Two branches R1 and R2 across the 120-V power line draw a total line current IT of 15 A. The R1

branch takes 10 A. How much is the current I2 in the R2 branch?

Solution:

IT = I1 + I2

I2 = IT - I1

I2 = 15 – 10 = 5A
2. Kirchhoff’s Mesh Law or Voltage Law (KVL)
It states as follows: “The algebraic sum of the products of currents and resistances in each of the
conductors in any closed path (or mesh) in a network plus the algebraic sum of the e.m.fs. in that path
is zero.” V = IR1 IR2 + IR3 + . . . + etc.

The following are the steps to perform Mesh Analysis based on Kirchoff’s law.

 Every loop is assigned a loop-based current value.

 Kirchhoff’s KVL is implemented for every loop.
 Perform mathematical solvation to obtain loop currents value.

(a) Sign of Battery E.M.F.

A rise in voltage should be given a + ve sign and a fall in voltage a −ve sign. Keeping this in mind, it is
clear that as we go from the −ve terminal of a battery to its +ve terminal (Fig. above), there is a rise in
potential, hence this voltage should be given a + ve sign. If, on the other hand, we go from +ve terminal
to −ve terminal, then there is a fall in potential, hence this voltage should be preceded by a −ve sign . It
is important to note that the sign of the battery e.m.f. is independent of the direction of the current
through that branch.
(b) Sign of IR Drop
Now, take the case of a resistor. If we go through a resistor in the same direction as the current, then
there is a fall in potential because current flows from a higher to a lower potential.
Hence, this voltage fall should be taken −ve. However, if we go in a direction opposite to that of the
current, then there is a rise in voltage. Hence, this voltage rise should be given a positive sign.

It is clear that the sign of voltage drop across a resistor depends on the direction of current through
that resistor but is independent of the polarity of any other source of e.m.f. in the circuit under
consideration.

Example: Given the circuit below, solve for the total resistance R T, current I, and the individual resistor
voltage drops.

Solution:

First, find RT by adding the individual resistance values.

Next, solve for the current, I.

Now we can solve for the individual resistor voltage drops.

Example: An applied voltage VT of 120 V produces IR drops across two series resistors R 1 and R2. If the
voltage drop across R1 is 40 V, how much is the voltage drop across R2?

Solution:

Since V1 and V2 must total 120 V and V1 is 40 V, the voltage drop across R 2 must be the difference
between 120 V and 40 V, mathematically;

VT = V2 + V1

V2 = VT - V 1

V2 = 120 V - 40 V

V2 = 80 V

Example: Given the circuit below, find the branch currents flowing in the circuit.

Solution:
For the loop with V 1, start at point B, at the bottom left, and go clockwise through V 1, VR1, and VR3. This
equation for loop 1 is

84 - VR1 - VR3 = 0

For the loop with V 2, start at point F, at the lower right, and go counterclockwise through V 2, VR2 and
VR3. This equation for loop 2 is

21 - VR2 - VR3 = 0

Divide the top equation by -6 and the bottom equation by -3 to reduce the equations to their simplest
terms and to have all positive terms, thus;

Using the method of elimination, multiply the top equation by 3 to make the I 2 terms the same in both
equations. Then;

Subtract the bottom equation from the top equation, term by term, to eliminate I 2. Then, since the I2
term becomes zero,
To calculate I2, substitute 5 for I 1 in either of the two loop equations. Using the bottom equation for
the substitution,

The negative sign for I2 means that this current is opposite to the assumed direction. Therefore, I 2 flows
through R2 from C to E instead of from E to C as was previously assumed.
RLC Circuit Analysis

An RLC circuit consists of three key components: resistor, inductor, and capacitor, all connected to a
voltage supply. These components are passive components, meaning they absorb energy, and linear,
indicating a direct relationship between voltage and current.
RLC circuits can be connected in several ways, with series and parallel connections being the most
common. Unlike LC circuits, which oscillate indefinitely, the resistor in an RLC circuit causes the
oscillations to decay more rapidly.

 RLC Circuits: An RLC circuit includes resistors, inductors, and capacitors. These components can be
arranged in series or parallel to control the flow of electricity.
 Series Connection: In series RLC circuits, all components share the same current but have different
voltages, which are combined vectorially because of their phase differences.
 Parallel Connection: In parallel RLC circuits, all components share the same voltage but have
currents that differ and must be vector summed due to phase differences.
 Resonance Phenomenon: Resonance in RLC circuits occurs when the inductive and capacitive
reactances balance each other, leading to either minimized or maximized impedance.
 Circuit Analysis: Using phasor diagrams and Kirchhoff’s Laws in analysis helps predict how RLC
circuits will respond under various conditions, aiding in design and troubleshooting.

Series RLC Circuit

In a series RLC circuit, the resistor, inductor, and capacitor are linked one after another with the voltage
supply, creating a continuous path for the current.
Since all these components are connected in series, the current in each element remains the same,
Let VR be the voltage across resistor, R.
VL be the voltage across inductor, L.
VC be the voltage across capacitor, C.
XL be the inductive reactance.
XC be the capacitive reactance.

The total voltage in the RLC circuit is not equal to the algebraic sum of voltages across the resistor, the
inductor, and the capacitor; but it is a vector sum because, in the case of the resistor the voltage is in-
phase with the current, for inductor the voltage leads the current by 90 o and for capacitor, the voltage
lags behind the current by 90o.

The Impedance for a Series RLC Circuit

The impedance Z of a series RLC circuit is defined as opposition to the flow of current due circuit
resistance R, inductive reactance, XL and capacitive reactance, XC. If the inductive reactance is greater
than the capacitive reactance i.e XL > XC, then the RLC circuit has lagging phase angle and if the
capacitive reactance is greater than the inductive reactance i.e XC > XL then, the RLC circuit have leading
phase angle and if both inductive and capacitive are same i.e XL = XC then circuit will behave as purely
resistive circuit.

We know that

Where,

Substituting the values

Parallel RLC Circuit

In a parallel RLC Circuit, the resistor, inductor, and capacitor are all connected across the same voltage
supply but operate independently, with the voltage constant across each and the total current split
among them.
The total current drawn from the supply is not equal to mathematical sum of the current flowing in the
individual component, but it is equal to its vector sum of all the currents, as the current flowing in
resistor, inductor and capacitor are not in the same phase with each other; so they cannot be added
arithmetically.

Phasor diagram of parallel RLC circuit, IR is the current flowing in the resistor, R in amps.
IC is the current flowing in the capacitor, C in amps.
IL is the current flowing in the inductor, L in amps.
Is is the supply current in amps.
In the parallel RLC circuit, all the components are connected in parallel; so the voltage across each
element is same. Therefore, for drawing phasor diagram, take voltage as reference vector and all the
other currents i.e IR, IC, IL are drawn relative to this voltage vector. The current through each element can
be found using Kirchhoff’s Current Law, which states that the sum of currents entering a junction or
node is equal to the sum of current leaving that node.

As shown above in the equation of impedance, Z of a parallel RLC circuit; each element has reciprocal of
impedance (1 / Z) i.e. admittance, Y. So in parallel RLC circuit, it is convenient to use admittance instead
of impedance.

Difference between Series RLC Circuit and Parallel RLC Circuit

S.NO RLC SERIES CIRCUIT RLC PARALLEL CIRCUIT
 Resistor, inductor and capacitor are Resistor, inductor and capacitor are
1
connected in series connected in parallel

Current is different in all elements and the

2 Current is same in each element total current is equal to vector sum of each
branch of current i.e Is2 = IR2 + (IC – IL)2

Voltage across all the elements is different

and the total voltage is equal to the vector Voltage across each element remains the
3
sum of voltages across each component same
i.e Vs2 = VR2 + (VL – VC)2

For drawing phasor diagram, current is For drawing phasor diagram, voltage is taken
4
taken as reference vector as reference vector

Voltage across each element is given by : Current in each element is given by:
5
VR= IR, VL = I XL, VC = I XC I R = V / R , I C = V / X C , IL = V / X L

Its more convenient to use impedance for Its more convenient to use admittance for
6
calculations calculations

At resonance , when XL = XC, the circuit has At resonance, when XL = XC, the circuit has
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minimum impedance maximum impedance