Experiment # 5: KIRCHHOFF’S LAW

INTRODUCTION

Objectives:
1. To familiarize and show the application of Kirchhoff’s current and voltage laws to series and
parallel combination.
2. To study the correct sign for each of the quantities involved.
3. To analyze the relation of summation of voltage drops to the summation of voltage rise around
the close path.
4. To analyze the relation of summation of inflowing currents at any junction of an electric circuit to
the current flowing out that junction.

Procedures:
1. Connect the circuit shown in Figure 1.
2. Using a voltmeter, measure and record the individual voltage drops across each resistor and
voltage across the switch S1 on Table 1.
2.a. when the switch S1 is open
2.b. when the switch S1 is closed
2.c. when the switch S1 is closed, while the 4.7 k and 5 k are shorted.
3. Using an ammeter, measure and record the individual current drawn by each resistor and the
current through the switch S1 on Table 2.
3.a. when the switch S1 is open
3.b. when the switch S1 is closed
3.c. when the switch S1 is closed, while the 4.7 k and 5 k are shorted.
4. Compute the individual branch current and voltage drops taken by each resistor and get the
|measured −calculated |
×100
percentage difference where % difference = measured +calculated (Math is Fun,
2
https://www.mathsisfun.com/percentage-difference.html). Record the results on
Table 1 and 2.
 Figure 1

PRESENTATION of DATA and DISCUSSION of RESULTS:

This experiment shows the application of Kirchhoff’s current and voltage laws to series and
parallel connection, it shows the correct sign for each of the quantities involved. It also shows the
analyzed relation of summation of voltage drops to the summation of voltage rise around the close path
and the analyzed relation of summation of inflowing currents at any junction of an electric circuit to the
current flowing out that junction.

Table 1. Voltage Values in Volts

Resistor When S1 is open When S1 is closed When S1 is open, 4.7kΩ and

5kΩ is shorted
Measured Calculated %Difference Measured Calculated %Difference Measured Calculated %Difference

1 kΩ 2.223 2.222 0.045% 2.156 2.155 0.046% 21.391 21.391 0%

4.7 kΩ 10.444 10.4444 0% 10.129 10.129 0% 0 0 0%
2 kΩ -0 0 0% 0.284 0.285 0.351% 3.391 9.392 0.012%
100 Ω 0.22 0.222 0.905% 0.23 0.233 1.296% 2.609 2.609 0%
5 kΩ 11.111 11.111 0% 11.486 11.485 0.015% 0 0 0%

Table 1(Voltage), when the switch S1 is open, the first resistor that has a value of 1kΩ has a
measured value of 2.223 and calculated value at 2.222 and a difference of 0.045%. while the second
resistor which is 4.7kΩ the measured and calculated value are the same which is 10.4444 shows that it
doesn’t have a difference, which is 0%. The third resistor has 2kΩ the same as the second resistor the
measured and calculated are the same which is 0 with a difference of 0%. The fourth resistor has 100Ω its
measured value is 0.22 and calculated value of 0.222, with a difference of 0.905%. the fifth resistor has
5kΩ it has the same measured and calculated value of 11.111 with a difference of 0%.
When the switch S1 is closed, the first resistor 1kΩ has a measured value of 2.156 and a
calculated value of 2.155 with a difference of 0.046%. The second resistor has 4.7kΩ its measured and
calculated value are the same which is 10.129 with a 0% difference. The third resistor has 2kΩ its
measured value is 0.284 and calculated value of 0.285 with 0.351% difference. The fourth resistor has
100Ω its measured value of 0.23 and calculated value of 0.233 and with a 0.0155 difference.
When S1 is open, 4.7kΩ and 5kΩ is shorted, the 1kΩ resistor has the same measured and
calculated value of 21.392 with 0% difference. The 4.7kΩ resistor with 0 measured and calculated value
and %difference. The 2kΩ resistor with 3.391 measured value a 9.392 calculated value with 0.0125%
 difference. The 100Ω resistor has the same measured and calculated value of 2.609 with 0%difference.
The 5kΩ resistor has a 0 measured and calculated value with 0%difference.

Table 2. Current Values in Ampere

Resistor When S1 is open When S1 is closed When S1 is open, 4.7kΩ and

5kΩ is shorted
Measured Calculated %Difference Measured Calculated %Difference Measured Calculated %Difference

1 kΩ 0.002 0.002 0% 0.002 0.002 0% 0.021 0.021 0%

4.7 kΩ 0.002 0.002 0% 0.002 0.002 0% 0.021 0.021 0%
2 kΩ -0 0 0% 0.1 0.1 0% 0.005 0.005 0%
100 Ω 0.002 0.002 0% 0.002 0.002 0% 0.026 0.026 0%
5 kΩ 0.002 0.002 0% 0.002 0.002 0% 0.026 0.026 0%

In Table 2(Current), when the switch S1 is open, the first resistor that has a value of 1kΩ has the
same measured and calculated value of 0.002 with a 0% difference. The second resistor has 4.7kΩ the
same as the first resistor, it has the same measured and calculated value of 0.002 with a 0% difference.
The third resistor has 2kΩ have also the same measured and calculated value 0 with a 0% difference. The
fourth resistor has 100Ω with the same measure and calculated value of 0.002 with a 0% difference. The
fifth resistor has 5kΩ has the same measured and calculated value of 0.002 with 0% difference.
When the switch S1 is closed, the that has the value of 1kΩ has the same measured and calculated
value of 0.002 with 0% difference. The second resistor has 4.7kΩhas the same measured and calculated
value same with the first resistor which is 0.002 with 0% difference. The third resistor has 2kΩ with 0.1
measured and calculated value also with 0% difference. The fourth resistor has 100Ω with 0.002
measured and calculated value with 0% difference. The fifth resistor has 5kΩthe same as the fourth
resistor it has 0.002 measured and calculated value with 0% difference.
When S1 is open, 4.7kΩ and 5kΩ is shorted, the 1kΩ resistor and the 4.7kΩ resistor has the same
measured and calculated value of 0.21 with also 0% difference. The 2kΩ has 0.005 measured and
calculated value with 0% difference. The 100Ω and 5kΩ has the same measured and calculated value of
0.026 with also 0% difference.

CONCLUSION

REFERENCES