Problem description:

Given circuit:

Or the equivalent circuit, where inner resistances of the generator are shown

𝜀1 = 24𝑉; 𝜀2 = 28𝑉;

𝑅𝑖1 = 0.1Ω; 𝑅𝑖2 = 0.2Ω;

𝑅1 = 0.3Ω; 𝑅2 = 0.2Ω; 𝑅3 = 32Ω;

Legend:

𝜀1 – E.M.F. of the aviation battery.

𝑅𝑖1 – Inner resistance of the EMF generator.

𝑅1 – Resistance of wires and connectors.

𝜀2 – E.M.F. of the aviation electrical generator.

𝑅𝑖2 – Inner resistance of the EMF generator.

𝑅2 – Resistance of wires and connectors.

𝑅3 – Load. Total resistance of connected equipment.

Plan:

1. Mark the direction of the current in each branch (Place arrow near the junctions).
2. Determine the total number of the independent equations, which is equal to the
number of branches.
3. Generate independent equations based on the first law of Kirchhoff. The number of
these equations (k) is the number of junctions (q) minus one.

𝑘 =𝑞−1

4. Generate independent equations based on the second law of Kirchhoff. Number of

these equations (k) is equal to: (q – number of junctions; n – number of branches)

𝑘 = 𝑛 − (𝑞 − 1)

5. When generating the 1st Kirchhoff law equations, we take inbound to junction vectors as
positive and outbound from junction vectors as negative.
When generation the 2nd Kirchhoff law equations, we randomly determine the direction
of the loop (clockwise or counterclockwise). Current and EMF vectors which coincide the
direction of the loop, are taken as positive, but the ones which are opposite to the
direction of the loop – negative.
6. Solve the system of linear equations.
Solution:

1. Determine the current vectors and each loop directions.

2. Generate 1st and 2nd Kirchhoff law equations.

Since the circuit has three branches, three independent equations must be generated:
one from the 1st law of Kirchhoff and two from the 2nd law of Kirchhoff.

(1) 𝐼1 + 𝐼2 = 𝐼3

(2) 𝜀1 + 𝜀2 = 𝐼1 (𝑅𝑖1 + 𝑅1 ) − 𝐼2 (𝑅𝑖2 + 𝑅2 )

(3) 𝜀2 = 𝐼2 (𝑅𝑖2 + 𝑅2 ) − 𝐼3 𝑅3

3. Solve the linear system of equations.

(1) 𝐼1 + 𝐼2 = 𝐼3

(2) 24 − 28 = 𝐼1 (0.1 + 0.3) − 𝐼2 (0.2 + 0.2)

(3) 28 = 𝐼2 (0.2 + 0.2) − 𝐼3 32

Or

(1’) 𝐼1 + 𝐼2 = 𝐼3

(2’) 𝐼1 − 𝐼2 = −10

(3’) 𝐼2 + 80𝐼3 = 70

Substitute I3 from (1) to (3’)

(3’’) 𝐼2 + 80(𝐼1 + 𝐼2 ) = 70

Or
 80𝐼1 + 81𝐼2 = 70

(2’) 𝐼1 − 𝐼2 = −10

Substitute I2 from (2’) and (3’’).

80𝐼1 + 81(𝐼1 + 10) = 70 or 161𝐼1 = 70 − 810

From here: 𝐼1 = −4.6𝐴

From (2’) 𝐼2 = 𝐼1 + 10 = −4.6 + 10 = 5.4𝐴

From (1) 𝐼3 = 𝐼1 + 𝐼2 = −4.6 + 5.4 = 0.8𝐴

Result Check:

Substitute the results into the second main equation.

24 − 28 = −4.6(0.1 + 0.3) − 5.4(0.2 + 0.2)

−4 = −4

Current values calculated correctly!