Electricity

Part 5
 Kirchhoff ’s First Law – Junction Law

• The sum of the currents into a junction

equals the sum of the currents away
from a junction.

OR

• Total charge fl owing into a junction 0.25 A

equals the total charge fl owing away
from the junction. Sign convention
• Current flowing into a junction is positive
• For any junction, ∑ 𝐈 = 0 • Current flowing away from a junction is negative
Kirchhoff ’s First Law – Junction Law

• Using KCL to determine the

value of the unknown
current i in the circuit given.

• 3 A
Kirchhoff ’s First Law – Junction Law

• Calculate the currents I 1 and I 2 ,

in the circuit given.

• I 1 = -1 A

• I 2 = -1 A
• Kirchhoff ’s fi rst law is equivalent a statement of law of
conservation of charge

• No point in a circuit keeps on accumulating charge or keeps on

supplying charge.

• Charges pass through the point. So, the net charge coming
towards the point should be equal to that going away from it
at the same time
Kirchhoff 's Second Law – Loop Law

• The algebraic sum of all the potential diff erences along a

closed loop is zero.

• ∑ 𝐕 = 0 for a loop
 How to apply the loop law?

• Decide on the direction of current in the circuit (if

it is not given in the question).

• If your assumed current direction is wrong, then

the answer for the current will have a negative
sign.

• Mark the high and low potential points in the loop.

 The current through the resistor (external

resistor or internal resistance of a cell) is in the
direction of high to low potential.

 For a cell, the positive terminal is at high

potential and the negative terminal is at low
potential
 Sign convention in applying loop law

While traversing through a loop,

Increase in potential (when you move from low to high potential points) is taken as
positive.

• For an external resistor or internal resistance of a cell through which current is fl owing, the
potential diff erence is obtained as the product of current and the resistance (+IR)

• For a cell, the potential diff erence is the emf of the cell (+ ε)

P.d across the cell on

P.d across the resistor on traversing from right to traversing from right to
left = + 6 V left = + 10 V
 Sign convention in applying loop law

While traversing through a loop,

Decrease in potential (when you move from high to low potential points) is taken as
negative.

• For an external resistor or internal resistance of a cell through which current is fl owing, the
potential diff erence is obtained as the product of current and the resistance(- IR)

• For a cell, the potential diff erence is the emf of the cell (- ε)

P.d across the cell on

P.d across the resistor on traversing from left to traversing from left to
right = - 6 V right = - 10 V
• Using Kirchhoff ’s laws,
fi nd the currents I 1 , I 2
and I 3
• Applying Kirchoff’s junction law, I1 + I2 = I3

• Applying Kirchoff’s loop law to the loop ABEFA,

-10 I1 - 40 I3 + 10 = 0

• Applying Kirchoff’s loop law to the loop BCDEB

+ 20 I2 – 20 + 40 I3 = 0

• Solving, I1 = - 0.14 A, I2 = 0.43 A, I3 = 0.29 A

• Using Kirchhoff ’s laws, fi nd the
currents I 1 , I 2 and I 3

• I1 = - 0.75 A, I2 = 2.88 A, I3 = 2.13 A

• Find the potential difference across 30 ohm.

• - 22.5 V

• Which is at higher potential: A or B?

• B
Kirchhoff 's Second Law – Loop Law

• The loop law is equivalent to the law of conservation of

energy

• The electrostatic force is a conservative force and the

work done by it in a closed path is zero
References

IB Physics guide 2016 IB Physics Textbooks IB past papers Various internet

sources

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