BATAAN HEROES COLLEGE

Module 4

Network Laws and

Theorems
BASIC ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

ENGR. GIAN ANGELO D. GARDUCE

Department of Electrical Engineering

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Module 4: Network Laws and Theorems

This module discusses different ways and principles on how to solve complex
circuit problems having more than one supply using different network laws and
theorems.

Learning Objectives
After studying this module, students should be able to:
a. To familiarize students with different complex connection of resistors.
b. To analyze and solve circuit problems using Kirchhoff’s Law.
c. To analyze and solve circuit problems using Maxwell’s Mesh method.

Common DC Circuit Theory Terms:

• Circuit – a circuit is a closed loop conducting path in which an electrical current flows.

• Path – a single line of connecting elements or sources.

• Node – a node is a junction, connection or terminal within a circuit were two or more circuit
elements are connected or joined together giving a connection point between two or more
components. A node is indicated by a dot.

• Loop – a loop is a simple closed path in a circuit in which no circuit element or node is
encountered more than once.

4.1 KIRCHHOFF’S LAW

In 1845, a German physicist, Gustav Kirchhoff developed a pair or set of rules or laws which
deal with the conservation of current and energy within electrical circuits. These two rules are
commonly known as: Kirchhoff’s Circuit Laws with one of Kirchhoff’s laws dealing with the
current flowing around a closed circuit, Kirchhoff’s Current Law, (KCL) while the other law
deals with the voltage sources present in a closed circuit, Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law, (KVL).

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Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL) – the algebraic sum of the currents at any junction or node of
an electric circuit is zero.

Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL) – the algebraic sum of the emf’s and the resistance voltage
drop in any closed loop of an electric circuit is zero.

Sign Conventions for Kirchhoff’s Law:

➢ Current towards the node, positive current.

➢ Current away from the node, negative current.
➢ In a voltage source, if loop enters on negative and goes out on positive, positive emf.
➢ In a voltage source, if loop enters on positive and goes out on negative, negative emf.
➢ In a resistance, if the loop direction is the same as the current direction, negative
resistance voltage drop.
➢ In a resistance, if the loop direction is opposite as the current direction, positive resistance
voltage drop.

Example:

Applying KCL:

at node “b” : I1 + I2 ̶ I3 = 0

Applying KVL:

at loop “fabef” : E1 ̶ I1R1 ̶ I3R3 = 0

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at loop “dcbed” : E2 ̶ I2R2 ̶ I3R3 = 0

at loop “fabcdef” : E1 ̶ I1R1 + I2R2 ̶ E2 = 0

Sample Problem:

Given the circuit below find the value of the three currents.

I1 I2

3Ω 4Ω

15V 5Ω 20V

I3

➢ In solving this problem using Kirchhoff’s Law, we need to create first equations using
KCL and KVL. Since there are three unknowns, we also need to create three equations.
➢ In using KCL, we all know that KCL focuses on currents, so we need to pick or choose
the node/ nodes in the circuit where currents coexist. We must select the important nodes
so that we can relate currents to each other in order to create an equation.
➢ For example in our given we can see that at node “b” the three currents coexist, we can
use KCL in this node to create an equation between the currents.
➢ Applying KCL at node “b” :

I1 + I 2 ̶ I3 = 0 (Eq.1) ,current I1 and I2 are pointing towards the node “b” so

their sign convention is positive, while current I3 is pointing away from node “b”
so its sign convention is negative. If there are no other currents left, we equate it
to zero as stated in KCL. This will be our equation 1.
➢ In using KVL, we need to assign a loop where we can follow or trace the path of
connected elements in the circuit. We can assign any loop clockwise or counter clockwise
in any closed path as long as no element or node is encountered more than once.

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➢ For example in our given, we can assign loop “fabef” to create another equation

I1 I2

3Ω 4Ω

15V 5Ω 20V

I3

➢ Applying KVL at loop “fabef” :

15V ̶ 3I1 ̶ 5I3 = 0 (Eq.2) , First if we follow the path of the loop, the loop
passes a voltage source which is 15V, and if the loop goes out on the positive
terminal of a voltage source, the sign convention of the voltage source is positive.

Then the loop passes the 3-ohm resistor and each resistor has a voltage drop, in
this case we call it V1. If we observe the direction of the loop, it is the same as the
direction of current 1 or I1, and if the loop direction is the same as the current
direction, the sign convention for V1 is negative. Now if we use Ohm’s Law to

get the current, we know that V1 = I1R1 then substituting it to the equation we get

–(3𝛀)(I1).

The loo now passes the 5-ohm resistor. Just like the previous resistor, the loop
direction is also the same as the current direction I3 that’s why it is also negative.
If there are no other elements in the loop we now equate this to zero as said in
KVL and we call this as our Equation 2.

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I1 I2
3Ω 4Ω

15V 5Ω 20V

I3

Applying KVL at loop “dcbed” :

20V ̶ 4I2 ̶ 5I3 = 0 (Eq.3) ,just like the previous loop we just need to follow
the rules in assigning sign conventions for each elements in the loop. The loop
goes out at the positive terminal of the 20V source so it is positive. The loop
direction is also the same as the current direction I2 and I3 that’s why they are
also negative.

➢ Since we have now three equations, we can now solve the three unknowns or the values
of the three currents.

I1 + I 2 ̶ I3 = 0 (Eq.1)

15V ̶ 3I1 ̶ 5I3 = 0 (Eq.2)

20V ̶ 4I2 ̶ 5I3 = 0 (Eq.3)

We can use elimination or substitution in getting the three unknowns. For instance let us
use elimination. We can use Equation 1 and 2 first then we multiply equation 1 by 3 so
that we can cancel out current 1 or I1.

3[ I1 + I2 ̶ I3 = 0 ] 3I1 + 3I2 ̶ 3I3 = 0

15V ̶ 3I1 ̶ 5I3 = 0

15V + 3I2 ̶ 8I3 = 0 (Eq.4)

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Now we can use Equation 4 and 3 to eliminate again another variable. We can multiply
Eq. 4 by 4 and Eq. 3 by 3 so that we can cancel out current 2 or I2.

4[ 15V + 3I2 ̶ 8I3 = 0 ] 60V + 12I2 ̶ 32I3 = 0

3[ 20V ̶ 4I2 ̶ 5I3 = 0 ] 60V ̶ 12I2 ̶ 15I3 = 0

120V ̶ 47I3 = 0

We can now solve the value of current 3 or I3.

120V ̶ 47I3 = 0
120V 47 I3
=
47 47

I3 = 2.553A

Substituting the value of I3 into Equation 3 we get;

20V ̶ 4I2 ̶ 5I3 = 0

20V ̶ 4I2 ̶ 5(2.553) = 0

20V ̶ 12.765 = 4I2

7.235V 4 I2
=
4 4

I2 = 1.809 A

Substituting the value of I3 into Equation 2 we get;

15V ̶ 3I1 ̶ 5I3 = 0

15V ̶ 3I1 ̶ 5(2.553) = 0

15V ̶ 12.765 = 3I1

2.235𝑉 3 I1
=
3 3

I1 = 0.745 A

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➢ To check your answers, you can also use calculator technique for three equations three
unknowns. In your scientific calculator press “Mode” then “5(EQN)” then
“2(anX+bnY+cnZ=dn)”. Just input the coefficients of each variable for each equation and
also the constant just make sure that the Constant of the equation is transposed to the
right hand side of the equation. In your calculator “a, b and c” stands for the coefficients
of the three unknowns for each equation and “d” stands for the constant.
a b c d
Eq. 1 1 1 -1 0
Eq. 2 -3 0 -5 -15
Eq. 3 0 -4 -5 -20

After you input all the coefficients and constants, pressing “=” equal sign will show you
the values for the three unknowns. Try and check it out!

I1 = 0.745 A I2 = 1.809 A I3 = 2.553A

4.2 MAXWELL’S MESH METHOD

The Mesh-Current Method involves a set of independent loop currents assigned to as many
meshes as it exist in the circuit and these currents are employed in connection with appropriate
resistances when the KVL equations are written. It is usually able to solve a circuit with less
unknown variables and less simultaneous equations.

How to use Maxwell’s Mesh Method in finding circuit currents:

➢ Assign a Mesh Current Loops inside the circuit. Either clockwise or counter clockwise
and label it as Ia, Ib …In.
➢ Formulate an equation between circuit currents and Mesh Current Loops. Take note that
this is different from Kirchhoff’s Sign Convention.
• If the mesh current loop is the same as the circuit current direction, then
circuit current is equal to positive mesh current.

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• If the mesh current loop is opposite as the circuit current direction, then
circuit current is equal to negative mesh current.
➢ Next, create equations using KVL. Follow the KVL sign conventions.
➢ Substitute the Mesh Currents in the KVL equations and then solve the equations.
➢ After getting the values of Mesh Currents you can now substitute it back to find the
values of circuit current.

Sample Problem:

Let us use the previous problem but this time using Maxwell’s Mesh Method.
Given the circuit below find the value of the three currents.

I1 I2

3Ω 4Ω

15V 5Ω 20V

I3

➢ Let us follow the steps in using maxwell’s mesh method. First let us assign mesh current
loops inside the circuit. In here I will use two clockwise loops to prove that we will still
get same answer for this same problem.

I1 I2

3Ω 4Ω

15V 5Ω 20V

I3

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➢ We can now formulate the relationship between circuit currents and mesh current loops.

I1 = Ia

I2 = ̶ Ib

I3 = Ia ̶ Ib ,following the sign convention in the steps above this is the

relationship for each circuit currents I1, I2 and I3. We will also use this to
substitute after creating KVL equations.
➢ Let us now create KVL equations for the two loops, simply follow the Kirchhoff’s law.
Applying KVL at loop “fabef” :

15 ̶ 3I1 ̶ 5I3 = 0 (Eq.1)

Applying KVL at loop “ebcde” :

5I3 + 4I2 ̶ 20 = 0 (Eq.2)

Let us now substitute the mesh currents in this KVL equations.
For (Eq.1)
15 ̶ 3(Ia) ̶ 5(Ia ̶ Ib) = 0
15 ̶ 3Ia ̶ 5Ia + 5Ib = 0
15 ̶ 8Ia + 5Ib = 0
For (Eq.2)

5(Ia ̶ Ib) + 4( ̶ Ib) ̶ 20 = 0

5Ia ̶ 5Ib ̶ 4Ib ̶ 20 = 0
5Ia ̶ 9Ib ̶ 20 = 0
➢ After simplifying the equations, we can now solve the two equations with two unknowns.
We can use elimination method. We multiply Eq. 1 by 5 and Eq. 2 by 8 to cancel out Ia.

5[ ̶ 8Ia + 5Ib + 15 = 0] ̶ 40Ia + 25Ib + 75 = 0

8[ 5Ia ̶ 9Ib ̶ 20 = 0] 40Ia ̶ 72Ib ̶ 160 = 0
̶ 47Ib ̶ 85 = 0

̶ 47Ib ̶ 85 = 0
− 47Ib 85
=
− 47 − 47

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Ib = - 1.809 A

Substituting the value of Ib to any of the equations we can get Ia.

5Ia ̶ 9Ib ̶ 20 = 0
5Ia ̶ 9(- 1.809 A) ̶ 20 = 0
5Ia + 16.281 ̶ 20 = 0
5Ia ̶ 3.719 = 0
5Ia 3.719
=
5 5
Ia = 0.744 A

To check, you can also use calculator technique for two equations two unknowns. In your
scientific calculator press “Mode” then “5(EQN)” then “1(anX+bnY=cn)”.

➢ After getting the values of mesh currents we can substitute it back to our circuit currents.

I1 = Ia I2 = ̶ Ib I3 = Ia ̶ Ib

I1 = 0.744 A I2 = ̶ (- 1.809 A) I3 = 0.744 A ̶ (- 1.809 A)

I2 = 1.809 A I3 = 0.744 A + 1.809 A

I3 = 2.553 A
As you can see, we still got the same answers using maxwell’s mesh method.

End of Module 4

References:

Romeo A. Rojas Jr. (May 2001). 1001 Solved Problems in Electrical Engineering. Excel Review
Center, Jaime R. Tiong.

Romeo A. Rojas Jr. (January 2004). Complete Electrical Engineering Formulas and Principles.
Excel Review Center.

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