Text section 28.

Kirchhoff’s circuit rules

Practice:
Chapter 28, problems 17, 19, 25, 26, 43

Junction Rule: total current in = total current out

at each junction (from conservation
of charge).

Loop Rule: Sum of emfs and potential differences

around any closed loop is zero (from
conservation of energy).

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Junction Rule: conservation of charge.
I2
I1 I 1 = I2 + I 3
I3
or

I 1’ I2’ (= -I2) I 1’ + I 2 ’ + I 3 ’ = 0

I3’ (= -I3)

Loop Rule: conservation of energy.

Follow a test charge q around a loop:

 around any loop in

circuit.

changes going from left to right

R I
ΔV = -IR
R
I
ΔV = +IR
- +
ΔV =
-Q +Q
ΔV = Q/C
C

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 18 Ω b c Find the current
9V I2 6Ω 3Ω through each battery.
I1 3V I3
a d

18 Ω b c

3Ω
The junction rule 9V I2 6Ω

will give: I1 3V I3
a d
A)  I1 + I2 + I3 = 0
B)  -I1 + I2 + I3 = 0
C)  I1 - I2 + I3 = 0
D)  I1 + I2 - I3 = 0
E) none of these

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 18 Ω b c Find the current
9V I2 6Ω 3Ω through each battery.
I1 3V I3 = - (I1 + I2)
a d

18 Ω b c

3Ω
The junction rule 9V I2 6Ω

will give: I1 3V I3
a d
A)  I1 + I2 + I3 = 0
B)  -I1 + I2 + I3 = 0
C)  I1 - I2 + I3 = 0
D)  I1 + I2 - I3 = 0
E) none of these

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 18 Ω b c
3Ω
The loop rule applied to 9V I2 6Ω

loop abcda will give: I1 3V I3

a d

A)  9A - 18I1 -3I3 = 0

B)  9A + 18I1 -3I3 = 0
C)  9A + 18I1 +3I3 = 0
D)  9A - 18I1 +3I3 = 0
E) none of these

18 Ω b c

3Ω
The loop rule applied to 9V I2 6Ω

loop abda will give: I1 3V I3

a d

A)  12A - 18I1 + 6I2 = 0

B)  12A - 18I1 - 6I2 = 0
C)  6A - 18I1 - 6I2 = 0
D)  6A + 18I1 + 6I2 = 0
E)  6A - 18I1 + 6I2 = 0

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 18 Ω b c Find the current
9V I2 6Ω 3Ω through each battery.
I1 3V I3 = - (I1 + I2)
a d

Answers: I1 = 400 mA, I2 = 200 mA

18 Ω b c

9V I2 6Ω 3Ω Junction b:
I 1 + I2 + I3 = 0
I1 3V I3 = - (I1 + I2)
so I3 = -(I1 + I2)
a d

Solution:
Loop abcda:
..... 1
Loop dbcd:
..... 2

7× 2 - 1 : 60 I2 = 12A  I2 = 200 mA

3 × 1 - 2 : 60 I1 = 24A  I1 = 400 mA

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 10 Ω b c Find the current
6V I2 20 Ω 40 Ω through each battery.
I1 3V I3 = - (I1 + I2)
a d

10 Ω b c Find the current

6V I2 20 Ω 40 Ω through each battery.
I1 3V I3 = - (I1 + I2)
a d

Answers: I1 = 171 mA, I2 = -64.3 mA

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 10 Ω b c

6V I2 20 Ω 40 Ω Junction b:
I 1 + I2 + I3 = 0
I1 3V I3 = - (I1 + I2)
so I3 = -(I1 + I2)

a d
Solution:
Loop abcda:
..... 1
Loop dbcd:
..... 2

4x 1 - 5x 2 : -140 I2 = 9  I2 = -64 mA

3x 1 - 2x 2 : 70 I1 = 12  I1 = 171 mA

200 Ω 200Ω

12 V a b

600 Ω 300Ω

What is Vab (i.e., Va - Vb ) when the switch is open?

Exercise for fun: Find the current through the

switch when it is closed.

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 c
I1 I2
The loop rule requires 200 Ω 200Ω
that Vab (i.e., Va - Vb )
a b
obeys:

600 Ω 300Ω

A)  Vab = (200Ω)I1 + (200Ω)I2 d

B)  Vab = (200Ω)I1 - (200Ω)I2
C)  Vab = -(200Ω)I1 + (200Ω)I2
D)  Vab = -(200Ω)I1 - (200Ω)I2

1Ω 2Ω

1Ω
Reff = ? a b

2Ω 1Ω

“Series and parallel“ rules don’t help in this case. You

have to go back to the fundamentals—Kirchhoff’s
Circuit Rules.

(Answer: Reff = 1.4Ω )

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 Reff = VTOTAL/ITOTAL

ITOTAL c Show that:

I2
I1
I1 = I 5 = 3I 3
1Ω 2Ω
I3 1Ω
VTOTAL a b I 2 = I 4 = 2I 3
I4
2Ω I5 ITOTAL= 5I3
1Ω
d
VTOTAL= (7Ω) I3

1)  Use Kirchhoff’s rules to write everything in terms

of, one variable, e.g., I3.

2)  Divide VTOTAL/ITOTAL .

Reff = VTOTAL/ITOTAL

ITOTAL c Show that:

I2
I1
I1 = I 5 = 3I 3
1Ω 2Ω
I3 1Ω
VTOTAL a b I 2 = I 4 = 2I 3
I4
2Ω I5 ITOTAL= 5I3
1Ω
d
VTOTAL= (7Ω) I3

1)  Use Kirchhoff’s rules to write everything in terms

of, e.g., I3. (Results: I1 = I5 = 3I3, I2 = I4 = 2I3; ITOTAL= 5I3;
VTOTAL= (7Ω) I3.)

2)  Divide VTOTAL/ITOTAL .

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 Solution to part A:

c
I2 Solution to part b:
250
100

12 V a
I1 I3 Loop adba:
b
I1 + I 3
400
250
I1 - I3
d 1

Loop abca:

Then:

 Solve…

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 R1 V1
V

R2 V2

and

(from ; and etc)

1Ω 3Ω

5Ω
Reff = ? a b

2Ω 4Ω

Notice that “series and parallel“ don’t help in this

case. You have to go back to Kirchhoff’s Rules.

(Answer: Reff = ( 155/74 ) Ω )

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