KIRCHHOFF’S

Filament CURRENT AND VOLTAGE LAW

Jumper

PURPOSE Figure 28.10

Glass insulator a modern “min
with a jumper c
The purpose of this experiment is to verify Kirchhoff’s voltage and current rules for the givenrent path if the
circuits. Christmas-tree
(a) (b)

The analysis of circuits is simplified by the use of two rules known as Kirchhoff’s rules,
which follow from the laws of conservation of energy and conservation of electric
charge.Series and Parallel Combination of Resistors
28.3 KIRCHHOFF’S RULES
As we saw in the preceding section, we can analyze simple circuits using the ex-
13.4 pression !V " IR and the rules for series and parallel combinations of resistors.
Very often, however, it is not possible to reduce a circuit to a single loop. The pro-
cedure for analyzing more complex circuits 878
is greatly simplified if we Cuse
H A P Ttwo
E R 2 8prin-
Direct Current Circuits
ciples called Kirchhoff ’s rules:
2. The sum of the potential d
1. The sum of the currents entering any junction in a circuit must equal the must be zero:
circuit loop
sum of the currents leaving that junction:

$ I in " $ I out (28.9)

Kirchhoff’s first rule is a stat

CHAPTER 28 Direct Current Circuits rent that enters a given point in
878 C H A Pbuild
not T E R 2 8up Direct
at a Current
point.Circuits
If we
28.11a, we obtain
Gustav Kirchhoff
2. The sum of the potential differences across all elements around2.any
(1824– 1887) Theclosed
sum of the potential d
Kirchhoff, a professor at Heidelberg, circuit looprepresents
must be zero:
circuit loop must be zero: Germany, and Robert Bunsen in- Figure 28.11b a mec
flows through a branched pipe h
vented the spectroscope and founded
the total flow rate out of the two
the science of spectroscopy, which

closed
"V % 0 & we shall study in Chapter 40. They
discovered the elements cesium and
(28.10)second rule follo
Kirchhoff’s
imagine moving a charge aroun
loop rubidium and invented astronomical
ing Kirchhoff’s
spectroscopy. Kirchhoff formulated point, the charge – circuit
first rule is a stats
charge
rent that enters a given point sum
another Kirchhoff’s rule, namely, “a started from it. The in
Kirchhoff’s first rule is a statement of conservation of electric charge. All cur- ments
cool substance will absorb light of the
not must
build upequal
at a the sum
point. Ifof
we th
same wavelengths that it emits when
tential energy decreases wheneve
28.11a, we obtain
rent that enters a given point in a circuit must leave that point because charge
hot.” (AIP ESVA/W. F. Meggers Collection)
across can-
a resistor or whenever it m
not build up at a point. If we apply this Gustav rule to Kirchhoff
the junction (1824– 1887) shown in Figure
emf. The potential energy increa
Kirchhoff, a professor at Heidelberg,
28.11a, we obtain from
Figurethe negative
28.11b terminal
represents a to
mec t
Germany, and Robert Bunsen in-
vented the spectroscope and founded plies
flows through a branched pipe ha
only for circuits in which
24– 1887) I1 % I2 # I 3 of spectroscopy, which
the science criterion may rate
the total flow not be outsatisfied
of the two if c
we shall study in Chapter 40. They shallKirchhoff’s
see in Chapter 31.
second rule follo
delberg, discovered the elements cesium and
n in- Figure 28.11b represents a mechanical analog QuickLab of this situation,
rubidium and invented astronomical
in which
imagine water
In justifying
moving our claim aroun
a charge that K
tion of
ingpipe energy,
point,equals we imagined
the charge – circuit carrs
d founded flows through a branched pipe having no leaks. TheKirchhoff
spectroscopy. flowformulated
rate into the
Draw an arbitrarily shaped closed rule, we imagine traveling around
another Kirchhoff’s rule, namely, “a charge started from it. The sum
, which the total flow rate out of the two branches loop
on thedoes
that right.
not cross over itself.
cool substance will absorb light of the rather than equal
ments must the changes
the suminofpote th
They Label five points on the loop a, b, c, d,
Kirchhoff’s second rule follows from the and e,law
same of conservation
wavelengths
and assign a random number of energy.
that it emits when You should Letdecreases
tential energy note us following
the wheneve sig
ium and hot.” (AIP ESVA/W. F. Meggers Collection)
imagine moving a charge around the loop. When
to each thestart
point. Now charge
at a and returns to the
across start-
a resistor
• Because chargesor whenever
move from it m
nomical work your way around the loop, cal- emf. The potential energy increa
mulated ing point, the charge – circuit system must have
culating the same
the difference betweenenergy
each as when end,
potential the if a resistor is
from the negative
change in potential terminal
"V acrossto t
mely, “a charge started from it. The sum of the increases in energy in some
pair of adjacent numbers. Some of
pliescircuit
only for ele-
circuits in which a
these differences will be positive, and • If a resistor is traversed in the
ght of the ments must equal the sum of the decreases somein willenergy
be negative.inAddother elements.
the differ- criterion The po-
tential "V across the resistor isc
may not be satisfied if
! (node)! of! a! circuit,! the! algebraic! sum! of! all! the!
! currents!is!zero!(sum!of!the!currents!entering!the!
! junction!equals!the!sum!of!the!currents!leaving!the!
! junction).!In!other!words,!electric!charge!is!conserved.!
! !
!
Σ!Iin!=!Σ!Iout!
!
! !
!
!
!
Kirchhoff’s!Voltage!Law!
!
! Kirchhoff’s!Voltage!!Law!states!that!around!any!closed!
! loop! or! path! in! a! circuit,! the! algebraic! sum! of! all!
! electric!potential!differences!is!equal!to!zero.!
! In!other!words,!it!is!the!conservation!of!energy.!!
! !
! ! Σ!Vi!=!0!
!
! !
V!N!V1!N!V2!N!V3!=!0!
! !
!
Conventions!for!Loop!Rule!!

!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
! !
!
! !
Battery voltage polarity convention
!
! Resistor voltage polarity convention
!
Ref.
https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/dccircuits/kirchhoffs-voltage-law.html
3.2 Kirchhoff’s junction rule

1) Set up the circuit provided on the up side.

2) If you have one multimeter, prepare it for 2 situations. You can use your multimeter for
measuring current and voltage.

3) Please make the connection of power supply.

4) Do not forget that Ammeters are connected in series so that the current flows through
them.Voltmeters are connected in parallel to resistive elements in the circuit so that they
measure the poten tial difference across (on each side of) the element.

5) In this experiment, please fill the Table 2 for this circuit.

6) Please make some conclusion about junction rule by using your experimental data.

Table2
V (V) I (A) I1 (A) I2 (A) I3(A) V1 (R1) V2 (R2) V3 (R3)
9

Ref.

1) Serway, R, Beichner,R. Physics for Scientists ans engineers with modern physics, Fifth
edition. 2000.
2) Rentech.Experiments in electricity, student guide. 2013.
Resistance, cables, multimeter, basic electrical set.

III. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

3.1 Kirchhoff’s loop rule

1) Set up the circuit provided on the up side.

2) If you have one multimeter, prepare it for 2 situations. You can use your multimeter for
measuring current and voltage.

3) Please make the connection of power supply.

4) Do not forget that Ammeters are connected in series so that the current flows through
them. The ideal ammeter has a resistance of zero.Voltmeters are connected in parallel to
resistive elements in the circuit so that they measure the potential difference across (on
each side of) the element.

5) In this experiment, please fill the Table 1 for this circuit.

6) Please make some conclusion about loop rule by using your experimental data.

Table1
V (V) I (A) V1 (R1) V2 (R2) V3 (R3)
9