DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUIT

KIRCHHOFF’S LAW
 ● For circuits involving one of more active elements and a number of passive elements
connected in series parallel; Kirchhoff’s law is useful. There are obtain by the extension of
OHM’S LAW.
KIRCHHOFF’S CURRENT LAW (KCL)
● This is also called as Kirchhoff’s first law or Kirchhoff’s nodal law.
STATEMENT: algebraic sum of the currents meeting at any junction or node is zero.
The term “algebraic” means the valve of quantity along with its sign positive or negative.
ALTERNATIVE STATEMENT: sum of the currents flowing towards the junction is equal to the sum
of current flowing away from the junction.

I3
I2
A I4
I1
I5

CURRENTS MEETING AT THE JUNCTION

Consider figure where five branches of current are connected together at the junction or node.
Currents I1, I2, and I4 are flowing towards the junction where as current I3 and I5 are flowing away from
junction A.
If positive sign assigned to the circuits I1, I2, and I4 that are flowing into the junction then the
current I3 and I5 flowing away from the junction should be assigned with the opposite sign; e the
negative sign.

APPLYING KIRCHHOFF’S CURRENT LAW TO JUNCTION A

I 1+ I 2−I 3+ I 4−I 5=0 (ALGEBRAIC SIGN IS ZERO)

The above equation gets modified as I 1+ I 2+ I 4−I 3−I 5 (sum of currents towards the
junction=sum of currents flowing away from junction.)

KIRCHHOFF’S VOLTAGE LAW

● Also called as Kirchhoff’s second law on Kirchhoff’s loop or mech law.
 STATEMENT: algebraic sum of the voltage around a closed path or close loop at any instant is
zero.

The current has force active elements with voltages: E 1 , E 2 , E 3. The polarity of each of
them is fixed. R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 are three passing elements present in the circuit. Current I 1 and I 3 are
marked flowing into the junction A. and current I marked away from the junction with known information
or assumed direction with reference to the direction of these currents the polarity voltage drop V 1 ,V 2 ,
and V 3 are marked.

FOR LOOP 1 IT IS CONSIDERED AROUND CLOCKWISE

+ E 1−V 1+V 3−E 3=0

+ E 1−I 1 R 1+ I 3 R 3−E 3=0 or
E 1=E 3=I 1 R 1=I 1 R 3
FOR LOOP 2 IT IS CONSIDERED ANTI CLOCKWISE

+ E 2+V 2+V 3−E 3=0

+ E 2+ I 2 R 2+ I 3 R 3−E 3=0or
E 2−E 3=I 2 R 2−I 3 R 3

I 1−I 2+ I 3=0
With the three questions one can solve for the three currents I 1 , I 2 and I 3 . If the results obtain
for I 1 , I 2 and I 3 are all positive; then the assumed direction of the currents are said to be along the
actual direction. A negative result for one or more currents will indicate that the assumed direction of the
perspective currents is opposite to the actual direction.