Ateneo de Naga University

College of Science and Engineering

Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering

ECEM311LAB GO31
CIRCUITS I

Circuits Laboratory Experiment no. 4

Kirchhoff’s Current Law

Submitted by:

Moral, Carlos Joczar

Mallapre, James Lemuel

Date of Experiment:

July 7, 2016

Date of Submission:

July 21, 2016

 CONTENTS

 Objectives
 Theory
 Equipment
 Method of Experiment
 Data
 Sample Computations
 Analysis
OBJECTIVES:

 To determine by analysis the relationship between the sum of the currents entering any junction of an
electric circuit, and the current leaving that junction.

 To verify experimentally the relationship determined in objective 1.

THEORY SECTION:

 The summation of all the current entering and leaving in a node (in a junction) is equal to zero.
∑ 𝐼 = 𝐼1 + 𝐼2 + 𝐼3 + … + 𝐼𝑛 = 0

EQUPMENT LIST:

 Power supply: Regulated variable direct current

 Equipment: multi-tester, connecting wires, breadboard
 Resistors: 330-, 470-, 1200-, 2200-, 3300-, 4700-, 5600-, and 10000-Ω

PROCEDURE:

Voltage law

NOTE: Before connecting the multi-tester to measure current, disconnect the power supply switch S. Follow this
procedure each time the meter is moved. Observe meter polarity.

1. Connect the circuit of Figure 2 with V=30V.Use the values R1, R2 etc., in Table 1. Measure and record in
Table 2 the currents IT at A; I2, I3 and IT at B, IT at C; and I5, I6, I7 and IT at D. Add the currents I2 and I3 and
record the sum in the proper column. Add also the currents I5, I6 and I7, and record the sum in the proper
column.
2. Connect the circuit of Figure 1, using the values R1 = 330, R2 = 470 and R3 = 1200. Adjust the output of
the power supply so that V = 30V. Measure and record in Table 3 the currents I T at A; I2, I3 and IT at B.
Add the currents I1, I2 and I3 and record their sum in Table 3.

Design Problem

Design a series-parallel circuit with three legs in the parallel circuit, such that the currents in the legs I1,
I2 and I3 are in the ration 1:2:3 (approximately) and the total current in the circuit is 6mA. Use resistors listed
in this experiment which will give the closest approximation to the desired ratio. Draw a diagram of the circuit
showing the values of resistance chosen and the design voltage V. Show all computations. Measure the
required currents and record them in Table 4. Record also the ratio of the currents I1, I2 and I3.
TABLE

TABLE 1
Rn R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8
Rated
Value, 330 470 1200 2200 3300 4700 10000 5600
ohms

TABLE 2
IT at A I2 I3 IT at B IT at C I5 I6 I7 IT at D I2 + I 3 I5 + I6 + I7
mA 2.94 2.14 0.81 2.94 2.95 1.44 1.03 0.43 2.92 2.95 2.90

TABLE 3
IT at A I1 I2 I3 IT at B I1 + I2 + I3
mA 179.42 90.93 63.81 24.65 179.42 179.39

TABLE 4
I1 I2 I3 IT I 1: I 2: I 3
mA 0.97 2.16 3.19 6.32 6.3
SAMPLE COMPUTATIONS
TABLE 2
𝐼23 = 𝐼2 + 𝐼3
𝐼23 = 2.14 + 0.81
𝐼23 = 2.95

𝐼567 = 𝐼5 + 𝐼6 + 𝐼7
𝐼567 = 1.44 + 1.03 + 0.43
𝐼567 = 2.90

DESIGN PROBLEM
R1 R2

10000Ω 2200Ω
R3

5600Ω
R4 R5

3300Ω 470Ω

V1

12V

𝑉𝑆 = 12

𝐼𝑇 = 6 𝑚𝐴 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑙𝑒𝑔 1: 2: 3

12 𝑉⁄
0.001 𝐴 = 12000 ≈ 12200

12 𝑉⁄
0.002 𝐴 = 6000 ≈ 5600

12 𝑉⁄
0.003 𝐴 = 4000 ≈ 3770
QUESTIONS
1. How does the sum of I2 and I3 (step 1) compare with IT at A? IT at B? Explain any discrepancies.
2. How does the sum of I5, I6 and I7 in step 1 compare with IT at C? IT at D? Explain any differences.
3. Comment on the results of your measurements in step 2.Explain any unexpected result.
4. In your own words state Kirchhoff’s current law. Also write the equation for it.
5. What information do you need to compute I2 and I3 in Figure 2?
6. Discuss the result of the design problem, step 3.
7. What made it possible for you to design a circuit which would give an exact current ratio 1:2:3?
ANSWERS

1. The sum of I2 and I3 is nearly equal to the It at A and It at B. But because of the tolerances in the resistors,
there is a difference in the value.

2. The sum of I5, I6, and I7 is nearly equal to It at C. The difference is caused by the resistors.

3. As we gathered data in step 2, it shows that the sum of I1, I2 and I3 is nearly the same to the current
measured at It at A and B. But with the tolerances, it shows a discrepancy in the data.

4. The algebraic sum of the current entering and leaving a node (in a junction) must be equal to zero.
∑𝐼 = 0

5. For computing the required parameters, we will need the total voltage and the total current in the circuit.
Then we measure at the branches of the voltage in either at R2 or R3 in which they are equal since it is
in parallel combination.

6. We will need to determine first the equation by considering the ration of the current in each of the branch
using the given ratio of 1:2:3. The input voltage we used in the circuit is 12 V. The first branch, resulted
in 0.97 mA, the second branch resulted in 2.16 mA, and the third branch resulted in 3.19 mA. The total
current is equal to 6.32 mA.

7. With initial voltage of 12V and the required total current which is 6mA, we have arrived to the values of
resistors for branch 1, 12,000 for second branch 6,000 and lastly for third branch 4000.
ANALYSIS

James Mallapre
The goal of this experiment is to conduct an experiment that involves Kirchhoff’s Current Law. Based
from the data that we have acquired, we were able to use KCL and we were able to determine its function in
the circuit. Basically, KCL primarily deals with the conservation of charge and leaving a junction. KCL was used
to determine the amount or magnitude of the flow of the electric current that flows around the circuit.
Gustav Kirchhoff’s Current Law states that for a parallel path, the total current entering a circuit
junction is exactly equal to the total current leaving the same junction. In simpler terms, the algebraic sum of
the current entering and leaving a node (in a junction) is approximately equal to zero. In series, the current
flowing into the resistors is the same, whereas in parallel setup, the current is added to the other current
present in the combination.
Comparing the computed values to the measured values, it is approximately equal. There may be some
slight differences, but this is due to some factors affecting the value itself. One factor that may affect the value
is the tolerance of the resistors. Because of this, it is expected that the value may not be exact, but is
approximately equal to the computed value.
Jude Verchez
In this experiment, the total current of the resistors is equal to the total current computed from the
voltage supplied and the resistors combined. When the circuit is in series, the current entering and leaving a
node is the same, while in parallel, the current in a junction is added.