Basic Laws

Kirchoff’s Current Law (KCL)

• The sum of the currents entering a node is

equal to the sum of the current leaving the
node.
• The algebraic sum of currents entering a
node (or a closed boundary) is zero
N

i
n 1
n 0
Kirchoff’s Current Law (KCL)
• We know the current
I1 = 2 A. What is
current I2?
I1
• I1 = I2 = 2A I2

• This confirms for us

that two elements in
series must have the
same current
Kirchoff’s Current Law (KCL)
Find the current I0 in the following circuit.

I in  I out
2 A  4 A  I 0  10 A 10 A
2A

I 0  2 A  4 A  10 A I0 4A

I 0  4 A
Kirchoff’s Current Law (KCL)
• There are two ways to
find I: I

– Find Req and then

calculate I I1 I2

– Find I1 and I2 and

then calculate I
Kirchoff’s Current Law (KCL)
• Find Req and then
calculate I I

• Req = 10/2 = 5 Ω
I1 I2

• I = 10/5 = 2A
Kirchoff’s Current Law (KCL)
• Find I1 and I2 and
then calculate I I

• I1 = 10/10 = 1A
I1 I2

• I2 = 10/10 = 1 A

• I = I1 + I2 = 2 A
Kirchoff’s Voltage Law (KVL)

• The algebraic sum of all voltages around a

closed path (or loop) is zero
M

v
m 1
m 0

• Sum of voltage drops = Sum of voltage

rises
Circuit Definitions
• In Series, voltage sources add
Circuit Definitions
• In Parallel, voltage sources provide more
current but have the same voltage
Review Question 2.9
Which of the circuits below will give you Vab = 7V?
a) b)

c) d)
Resistors in Series
• The equivalent resistance of any number
of resistors connected in series is the sum
of the individual resistances.

Req  R1  R2    RN
Resistors in Parallel
• The equivalent resistance of any number
of resistors connected in parallel is the
reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocals

1 1 1 1
   
Req R1 R2 RN
Resistors in Parallel
• The equivalent resistance of any two
resistors in parallel can be expressed
more simply as:

R1 R2
Req 
R1  R2
 Voltage Division
• To calculate the voltage drop across each
resistor, use the following equations:

R1
R1
+ V1 _ V1  VS
+ R1  R2
VS V2 R2
R2
_ V2  VS
R1  R2
 Current Division
• To calculate the current going through each
resistor, use the following equations:

R2
I1  IS
R1  R2
IS R1 I1 R2 I2
R1
I2  IS
R1  R2