BEE-Unit 1 –Kirchoff’s

Laws

Dr. Leena G. Professor,

Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Faculty
of Engineering and Technology,
Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and
Studies, Faridabad
 Contents
• Basic definitions related to electrical network
voltage source, current source, branch, mesh,
loop, node etc.
• Types of network elements
• Kirchoff’s voltage law
• Kirchoff’s current law
• Simple Numerical Problems

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 Definitions
• Circuit- is a closed conducting path through
which an electric current either flows or is
intended to flow.
• Parameters- The various elements of an
electric circuit are called its parameters like
resistance inductance and capacitance. These
parameters may be lumped or distributed.
• Linear circuit- The input output relationship is
constant.
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 Definitions
• Nonlinear circuit- The input output
relationship is not constant. Eg. saturation
• Bilateral Circuit- Whose properties or
characteristics are same in either direction. Eg
is transmission line
• Unilateral circuit- It is that circuit whose
properties or characteristics change with
direction of operation. A diode rectifier is a
unilateral circuit
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 Definitions
• Passive elements- is an electrical component
that does not generate power, but instead
dissipates, stores, and/or releases
it. Resistance, Capacitor, Inductor are passive
elements.
• Active elements- Active component supplies
energy to a circuit. Eg. Voltage sources and
current sources
• Node- It is a junction in a circuit where two or
more circuit elements are connected.
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 Definitions
• Branch- is that part of a network which lies
between two junctions.
• Loop- It is a closed path in a circuit in which no
element or node is encountered more than
once.
• Mesh- It is a loop that contains no other loop
within it.

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• A,B,C, D, E, F,G, H are
nodes
• ABCGDHA –loop
• ABCFEA- loop
• HAEFCGDH-loop
• ABDHA-loop
• BCGDB-loop
• AEFCBAE-loop

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 Definitions
• Ideal Voltage source- the
output voltage remain
absolutely constant. Or it
have zero internal resistance
• Ideal Current source- It
produces a constant current
irrespective of the voltage
across it. Or it has infinite
resistance

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In 1845, a German physicist, Gustav
Kirchhoff developed a set of rules or laws
which deal with the conservation of current
and energy within electrical circuits. These
two rules are commonly known
as: Kirchhoffs Circuit Laws with one of
Kirchhoffs laws dealing with the current
flowing around a closed circuit, Kirchhoffs
Current Law, (KCL) while the other law deals
with the voltage sources present in a closed
circuit, Kirchhoffs Voltage Law, (KVL).
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 Kirchoff’s Current Law(first law)
It states that in any
electrical network, the
algebraic sum of all the
currents meeting at a
point (or junction or
node) is zero. In other
words the algebraic sum
of ALL the currents
entering and leaving a
node must be equal to https://www.electronics-
zero. 𝐼 = 0 tutorials.ws/dccircuits/dcp_4.html

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 Kirchoff’s Voltage law
It states that in any closed circuit (or mesh) the
algebraic sum of the products of the current and
the resistance of each part of the circuit is equal
to the resultant voltage (emf) acting in the circuit.
In other words the algebraic sum of all voltages
within the loop must be equal to zero. This idea by
Kirchhoff is known as the Conservation of Energy.
𝐸= 𝐼𝑅

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 Kirchoff’s Voltage law
The emf causing current
flow in the clockwise
direction in a mesh, may be
taken as positive emf and
the emf causing current to
flow in the anticlockwise
direction may be taken as 𝐸1 − 𝐸2 + 𝐸3
negative emf. = 𝐼𝑅1 + 𝐼𝑅2 + 𝐼𝑅3

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 Kirchoff’s Voltage law
The resistance drops in a
mesh due to current
flowing in the clockwise
direction may be taken as
positive voltage drop and
the resistance drop due to
current flowing in the
anticlockwise direction 𝐸1 − 𝐸2 + 𝐸3
may be taken as negative = 𝐼𝑅1 + 𝐼𝑅2 + 𝐼𝑅3
voltage drops
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Qn.1 Solve this network using
Kirchoff’s Laws

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Solution to Qn.1 using Mesh Analysis
Assume the mesh currents, 𝑖1 , 𝑖2 .
Write down the KVL equations of both the loops
2𝑖1 + 4(𝑖1 − 𝑖2 ) = 10
𝑖2 + 8𝑖2 + 4(𝑖2 − 𝑖1 ) = 0

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Solution to Qn.1 using Mesh Analysis
Rewriting the KVL equations we get
6𝑖1 − 4𝑖2 = 10
−4𝑖1 + 13𝑖2 = 0
Solve for 𝑖1 , 𝑖2
Write down the above equations in matrix form
6 −4 𝑖1 10
=
−4 13 𝑖2 0
Use Cramer’s rule for solving the currents 𝑖1 , 𝑖2

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Solution to Qn.1 using Mesh Analysis
10 −4 6 10
0 13 −4 0
𝑖1 = 6 −4 and 𝑖2 = 6 −4
−4 13 −4 13
10 × 13 − (−4 × 0) 130
𝑖1 = = = 2.097𝐴
6 × 13 − (−4 × −4) 62
6 × 0 − (−4 × 10) 40
𝑖2 = = = 0.645𝐴
6 × 13 − (−4 × −4) 62

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Solution to Qn.1 using Mesh Analysis
Current in 2 resistor is 𝑖1 =2.097A
Current in 1 resistor is 𝑖2 =0.645A
Current in 8 resistor is 𝑖2 =0.645A
Current in 4 resistor is 𝑖1 − 𝑖2
= 2.097 − 0.645 = 1.452𝐴

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Qn.2 Solve this network using
Kirchoff’s Laws

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Solution to Qn.2 using Mesh Analysis
Assume the mesh currents, 𝑖1 , 𝑖2 .
Write down the KVL equations of both the loops
2𝑖1 + 6(𝑖1 − 𝑖2 ) = 50
8𝑖2 + 6 𝑖2 − 𝑖1 = 10

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Solution to Qn.2 using Mesh Analysis
Rewriting the KVL equations we get
8𝑖1 − 6𝑖2 = 50
−6𝑖1 + 14𝑖2 = 10
Solve for 𝑖1 , 𝑖2
Write down the above equations in matrix form
8 −6 𝑖1 50
=
−6 14 𝑖2 10
Use Cramer’s rule for solving the currents 𝑖1 , 𝑖2

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Solution to Qn.2 using Mesh Analysis
50 −6 8 50
10 14 −6 10
𝑖1 = 8 −6 and 𝑖2 = 8 −6
−6 14 −6 14
50 × 14 − (−6 × 10) 760
𝑖1 = = = 10𝐴
8 × 14 − (−6 × −6) 76
8 × 10 − (−6 × 50) 380
𝑖2 = = = 5𝐴
6 × 13 − (−4 × −4) 76

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 Additional Questions
Qn.1 Solve this network using Kirchoff’s Laws

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 Additional Questions
Qn 2 Obtain the current in the 4 resistor using
Kirchoff’s law of the circuit

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 Additional Questions
Qn 3 Obtain the current in the 2 resistor using
Kirchoff’s law of the circuit

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 Additional Questions
Qn 4 Obtain the current in the 4 resistor using
Kirchoff’s law of the circuit

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 Additional Questions
Qn 5 Obtain the current in the 5 resistor using
Kirchoff’s law of the circuit

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