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Institute for NET/JRF, GATE, IIT-JAM, M.Sc. Entrance, JEST, TIFR and GRE in Physics

1(a). Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (K.V.L.) and Kirchhoff’s Current Law (K.C.L.)
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (K.V.L.)
Sum of the voltage in any closed loop must be zero considering same sign convention.
Sign Convention:
Lets consider that voltage is positive if we move from plus to minus then voltage is
negative if we move from minus to plus. We can consider otherwise also.
Lets apply KVL in single loop network as shown in figure.
1  R 

V  IR  IRL  0 or V  IR  IRL  0 I

V V 
I  V  RL
R  RL Req ,12 
I
 Req ,12  R  RL (Series equivalent of resistance) 
2
Voltage Division Rule
VR
Voltage drop across R is VR  IR 
R  RL
VRL
Voltage drop across RL is VRL  IRL 
R  RL
Kirchhoff’s Current Law (K.C.L.)
At any node sum of incoming current is equal to sum of outgoing current.

I3 I4
I2

I1 I5

I6

Thus I1  I 2  I 3  I 4  I 5  I 6

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 fiziks
Institute for NET/JRF, GATE, IIT-JAM, M.Sc. Entrance, JEST, TIFR and GRE in Physics

Current Division Rule

R1
I1
I 1 2 I
 
I2

R2

According to KCL at node 1 and 2: I  I1  I 2 ...  i 

Since parallel voltages are equal: V12  V  I1 R1  I 2 R2 ...  ii 

Solve equation (i) and (ii) for I1 and I 2 :

R2 R1
I1  I and I 2  I
R1  R2 R1  R2
R1 R2
Then V12  V  I1R1  I 2 R2  I  IReq ,12
R1  R2
R1 R2
 Req ,12  (Parallel equivalent of resistance)
R1  R2
Two Loop Network
We can find current through each resistance using KVL and current division rule.
Lets apply KVL in two loop network as shown in figure.

1  R1   R3 

I IL
 

V  I R2 II RL
 
I  IL IL

2

In loop (I): V  IR1   I  I L  R2  0 ...  i 

In loop (II): I L R2  I L RL   I  I L  R2  0 ...  ii 

Solve equation (i) and (ii) for I and I L .

H.No. 40-D, Ground Floor, Jia Sarai, Near IIT, Hauz Khas, New Delhi-110016
Phone: 011-26865455/+91-9871145498
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 fiziks
Institute for NET/JRF, GATE, IIT-JAM, M.Sc. Entrance, JEST, TIFR and GRE in Physics

Lets apply current division rule in two loop network as shown in figure.

1  R1  3  R3 
 
I IL
 

V  R2 RL
 
I  IL IL

2
V R  R  RL 
Current through R1 is I  where Req ,12  R1  2 3
Req ,12 R2   R3  RL 

Lets apply current division rule at node 3:

IL 
R2
I and I  I L 
 R3  RL  I
R2   R3  RL  R2   R3  RL 

Example: Find current across each element 3 7

in the circuit shown in figure below.
(a) Using current division rule 12V 6 7
(b) Using KVL
Solution:
12 5
(a) Current I   A 3 7
6 14 3
3
6  14 I I1
6 5 1 12V I2 6 I1 7
I1    A
6  7  7 3 2

I2 
7  7  5  7 A
6  7  7 3 6

(b) Apply KVL in Loop I  3 _ 7 _

12  3  I1  I 2   6 I 2  0  3I1  9 I 2  12 
I1  I 2  I1 
I2 I1 7
Apply KVL in Loop II
12V_ _6  _
I II
7 I1  7 I1  6 I 2  0  7 I1  3I 2

1 7
Solving above equations, we get I1  A and I 2  A
2 6

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Phone: 011-26865455/+91-9871145498
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