DC Circuits 2

Wk2 Lecture2
DC Circuits (2)
2
Lecture Overview
⮚ Measurement of Current and Voltage

o Ammeter
o Voltmeter
⮚ Series vs Parallel Circuits
⮚ Circuit Analysis
o Kirchhoff's current Law (KCL)
o Kirchhoff's voltage Law (KVL)
sheffield.ac.uk/international-college
3
Measurement of current and voltage
▪ Electrical cables do not conduct current ideally. A potential
difference V is required to drive the current through the
resistance of the material.
V
I + -
R
▪ The unit of resistance is the Ohm (Ω). In some applications, such

as providing heat from an electric radiator, the load is a
resistance.
▪ For a pure resistance, the value in Ohms of the resistance is
equal to the potential difference across it divided by the current
through it:
▪ R=V/I
4
Measurement of current
Ammeter
▪ An ammeter is a device for measuring electric current that
flows through a circuit.
▪ Modern instruments are usually digital. Power loss in meters

is small.
5
Ammeter
I
A R
1) It measures the electrical current that flows through a

resistor or circuit.
2) The ammeter should be placed in a series with the resistor.
Why ??
3) It should have as low a resistance as possible.

6
Measurement of voltage
Voltmeter
1) A voltmeter measures the
potential drop between two
points in a circuit.
2) It is connected in parallel; in
order to minimize the effect
on the circuit.
I
3) It should have as large a R
resistance as possible.
Why ?? V
7
Voltmeter
4) Potential difference is
measured by a voltmeter
placed across the
component.
❑ Power dissipated in the resistance is the product of the

voltmeter and ammeter readings:
Where:
I = current (ampere)
P = I.V = I2.R = V2 / R V = voltage (volt)
R = resistance (ohm)
8
Series vs Parallel
Practice Examples
In the following 3 examples we will try to compare between
parallel and series combinations.
Example (1):
A
+ I
6V R=3Ω V
What will be the readings on the voltmeter and ammeter?
What power is being dissipated in the resistor sheffield.ac.uk/international-college

R?
9
Series vs Parallel
Solution: A
+ I
▪ The ammeter will read 2A
6V R=3Ω V
(Using R = V/I)
▪ The voltmeter will read 6V
▪ The power in the resistor is 12 W

(VI or I2R or V2/R)
10
Series vs Parallel
Example (2):
A second 3 Ω resistor is added. What will be the readings

on the meters and the power in each resistor?
A
+ I
R1=3Ω
6V V
R2=3Ω
-
11
Series vs Parallel
Solution:
The voltmeter will again read 6V A
+ I
Why ?? R1=3Ω
The ammeter will read 1A. 6V V

R2=3Ω
-
Because the resistance is doubled
The power in each resistor is now: I2R = 3W How come??
The power taken from the battery is reduced to 6W.

12
Series vs Parallel
Example (3):
The two 3 Ω resistors are now placed in parallel. What will be

the readings on the meters and the power in each resistor?
A
+ I
6V V R1=3Ω R2=3Ω
13
Series vs Parallel
A
+ I
Solution:
6V V R1=3Ω R2=3Ω
▪ The voltmeter will still read 6V. Thus the current in each
resistor is V/R = 2A.
▪ The total current seen by the ammeter is 4A.
▪ The power in each resistor is V2/R = 12W and the battery

has to deliver 24W.
14
Series vs Parallel
Summary
Equivalent Ammeter Voltmeter Power of the

Arrangement Resistance reading reading circuit
(ohm) (amp) (volts) (watt)
Series
6 1 6 6
connection
Single load 3 2 6 12
Parallel
1.5 4 6 24
connection
Break
15
16
Circuit Analysis
Kirchhoff’s Rules
▪ More complex circuits cannot

be broken down into series and
parallel pieces
▪ For these circuits, Kirchhoff’s rules are useful:
1) The junction/node rule (current rule): is a consequence of

charge conservation.
2) The loop rule (voltage rule): is a consequence of energy

conservation.
17
Kirchhoff’s First Rule
The junction/node rule (current rule):
At any junction, the total current entering the junction must

equal the total current leaving it.
18
The junction rule:
The algebraic sum of the currents at any junction in a network is
zero.
I1 I1 I2
+ R1 I3 R2
R4
R3
- R5 I1 I3 I2
It is usually most convenient to draw all the currents in the

same direction; some will be negative.
19
The junction rule:
At any junction, the current entering the junction must equal the
current leaving it.
20
Kirchhoff’s Second Rule
The loop rule (voltage rule):
The algebraic sum of the potential differences around a closed loop

must be zero. Or the sum of the potential differences in a closed
loop must equal the sum of the emf’
Loop
21
Kirchhoff’s Second Rule
The loop (voltage) rule:
V1 V4
+ - + -
+
+
+
Loop 1 Loop 2 V5
V V2
V3
-
-
-
- +
22
Break
23
Practice Examples
Example (1):
Consider the circuit shown below. Find:
a) the currents through R1 and R2.

b) the current leaving the voltage source.
Vin = 20V R1 = 20 Ω R2 = 40 Ω
24
Solution:
How many current nodes and voltage loops are in the circuit?
I A I2
+
+
+ Loop 1 Loop 2
Vin = 20V I1 I2 R2
R1
- - -
I B
The circuit has:
o 2 resistors (branches)
o 2 nodes (A and B)
o 2 independent loops.
25
Solution:
Using Kirchhoff's Current Law:
At node A: I = I1 + I2
(1)
At node B: I1 + I2 = I
Using Kirchhoff's Voltage Law:
Loop 1: Vin – VR1 = 0 VR1 = 20v (2)
Loop 2: VR1 – VR2 = 0 VR2 = 20v (3)
26
Solution:
a) Using R= V/I:
b) Applying KCL demonstrated in equation (1):
At node A: I = I1 + I2 I = 1 + 0.5 = 1.5 A
Question: Verify your answer in part (b) using Total V /Req
27
Practice Examples
Example (2):
Find the current flowing in the 40Ω Resistor (R3 ) and the voltage
drop (V3) across it.
28
Solution:
The circuit has:

o 3 resistors (branches)
o 2 nodes (A and B)
o and 2 independent loops.
29
Solution:
Using Kirchhoff's Current Law, the equations are given as;
At node A: I1 + I2 = I3
At node B: I3 = I1 + I2
Using Kirchhoff's Voltage Law, the equations are given as;

Loop 1: 10 = R1 x I1 + R3 x I3 = 10I1 + 40I3 (1)
Loop 2: 20 = R2 x I2 + R3 x I3 = 20I2 + 40I3 (2)

30
Solution:
As I3 is the sum of I1 + I2 we can rewrite the equations as;
Equation No (1): 10 = 10I1 + 40(I1 + I2) = 50I1 + 40I2
Equation No (2): 20 = 20I2 + 40(I1 + I2) = 40I1 + 60I2
We now have two "Simultaneous Equations" that can be reduced

to give us the value of both I1 and I2
Substitution of I1 in terms of I2 gives us the value of I1:
I1 = -0.143 Amps
Substitution of I2 in terms of I1 gives us the value of I2 :

I2 = +0.429 Amps
31
Solution:
As : I3 = I1 + I2
The current flowing in resistor R3 is given as:
I3 = -0.143 + 0.429 = 0.286 Amps
Thus, the voltage across the resistor R3 is given as:

V4 = 0.286 x 40 = 11.44 volts
Note:
The negative sign for I1 means that the direction of current flow
initially chosen was wrong. This means we do not have to worry
about which direction we choose initially for the current.
32
Summary
❖ Ammeter:
▪ measures current.
▪ connected in series.
▪ resistance should be as small as possible.
❖ Voltmeter:
▪ measures voltage.
▪ connected in parallel.
▪ resistance should be as large as possible.
33
Summary
❖ Kirchhoff’s junction rule:

▪ All current that enters a junction must also leave it.
❖ Kirchhoff’s loop rule:

▪ The algebraic sum of all potential differences around a
closed loop must be zero.
The End
34
Now that you have watched lecture 2 you should attempt

the seminar 3 questions.
You will find these in the seminar 3 folder.

It is vital that you do these before logging into seminar 3 as
your tutor will be going through the model answers for
these questions.
Make sure you refer back to the lecture and look at the
relevant pages of your online textbook.

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Wk2 Lecture2

⮚ Measurement of Current and Voltage

⮚ Series vs Parallel Circuits

▪ The unit of resistance is the Ohm (Ω). In some applications, such

▪ Modern instruments are usually digital. Power loss in meters

1) It measures the electrical current that flows through a

3) It should have as low a resistance as possible.

❑ Power dissipated in the resistance is the product of the

What will be the readings on the voltmeter and ammeter?

What power is being dissipated in the resistor sheffield.ac.uk/international-college

▪ The voltmeter will read 6V

▪ The power in the resistor is 12 W

A second 3 Ω resistor is added. What will be the readings

The ammeter will read 1A. 6V V

The power in each resistor is now: I2R = 3W How come??

The power taken from the battery is reduced to 6W.

The two 3 Ω resistors are now placed in parallel. What will be

▪ The total current seen by the ammeter is 4A.

▪ The power in each resistor is V2/R = 12W and the battery

Equivalent Ammeter Voltmeter Power of the

▪ More complex circuits cannot

▪ For these circuits, Kirchhoff’s rules are useful:

1) The junction/node rule (current rule): is a consequence of

2) The loop rule (voltage rule): is a consequence of energy

The junction/node rule (current rule):

At any junction, the total current entering the junction must

It is usually most convenient to draw all the currents in the

The junction rule:

The algebraic sum of the potential differences around a closed loop

Consider the circuit shown below. Find:

a) the currents through R1 and R2.

Using Kirchhoff's Voltage Law:

Loop 1: Vin – VR1 = 0 VR1 = 20v (2)

Loop 2: VR1 – VR2 = 0 VR2 = 20v (3)

b) Applying KCL demonstrated in equation (1):

At node A: I = I1 + I2 I = 1 + 0.5 = 1.5 A

Question: Verify your answer in part (b) using Total V /Req

The circuit has:

Using Kirchhoff's Current Law, the equations are given as;

Using Kirchhoff's Voltage Law, the equations are given as;

Loop 2: 20 = R2 x I2 + R3 x I3 = 20I2 + 40I3 (2)

As I3 is the sum of I1 + I2 we can rewrite the equations as;

Equation No (1): 10 = 10I1 + 40(I1 + I2) = 50I1 + 40I2

Equation No (2): 20 = 20I2 + 40(I1 + I2) = 40I1 + 60I2

We now have two "Simultaneous Equations" that can be reduced

Substitution of I2 in terms of I1 gives us the value of I2 :

I3 = -0.143 + 0.429 = 0.286 Amps

Thus, the voltage across the resistor R3 is given as:

❖ Kirchhoff’s junction rule:

❖ Kirchhoff’s loop rule:

Now that you have watched lecture 2 you should attempt

You will find these in the seminar 3 folder.

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