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Palawan MasterUniversity
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College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
Kirchhoff’s Laws
Engr. Ian D. Valdeztamon, REE
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KIRCHHOFF’S VOLTAGE LAW (KVL)
Kirchhoff’s voltage law states that the voltage applied to a closed
circuit equals the sum of the voltage drops in that circuit.
Voltage applied = Sum of voltage drops
VA = V1 + V2 + V3
Engr. Ian D. Valdeztamon, REE
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KIRCHHOFF’S VOLTAGE LAW (KVL)
KVL is that the algebraic sum of the voltage rises and voltage drops
must be equal to zero.
A voltage source or emf is considered a voltage rise; a voltage across
a resistor is a voltage drop.
Voltage applied - Sum of voltage drops = 0
VA - V1 - V2 - V3 = 0
VA – (V1 + V2 + V3) = 0
Engr. Ian D. Valdeztamon, REE
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KIRCHHOFF’S VOLTAGE LAW (KVL)
V1 = 50 V
d c
IT + R1 -
VA = 100 V V2 = 30 V
+ R2 -
V3 = 20 V
b a
+ R3 -
Engr. Ian D. Valdeztamon, REE
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KIRCHHOFF’S VOLTAGE LAW (KVL)
Example
Determine the direction of voltage around the circuit abcda and then write the expression
for voltages around the circuit.
b c
+ V2 -
V1
VB
VA
a d
Engr. Ian D. Valdeztamon, REE
- V3 +
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KIRCHHOFF’S VOLTAGE LAW (KVL)
Example
Determine the voltage VB. 3V
+ V1 -
V2 6V
VA = 15 V VB = ?
d
- V3 = 2 V +
Engr. Ian D. Valdeztamon, REE
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KIRCHHOFF’S CURRENT LAW (KCL)
Kirchhoff’s current law states that the sum
of the currents entering a junction is equal
to the sum of the currents leaving the
junction. I6
I3
Engr. Ian D. Valdeztamon, REE
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KIRCHHOFF’S CURRENT LAW (KCL)
Example
Write the equation for current I, for part a and part b
I2
I2
P
I1 I1 I3
I3 I4
Engr. Ian D. Valdeztamon, REE
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KIRCHHOFF’S CURRENT LAW (KCL)
Example
Find the unknown currents in part a and part b.
I4 = ?
I1 = ? I3 = 3 A I1 = 2 A I2 = 3 A
I2 = 7 A
I3 = 4 A
Engr. Ian D. Valdeztamon, REE
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KIRCHHOFF’S VOLTAGE LAW (KVL)
Find the signs of the voltages when tracing the mesh afedcba and write the expression for
KVL
a f e
V3 VC
V1 V4 V2
b c d
VA VB
Engr. Ian D. Valdeztamon, REE
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MESH or LOOP CURRENTS
A mesh is a loop which does not contain any other loops within it.
Steps to Determine Mesh Currents:
1. Assign mesh currents to the n meshes.
2. Apply KVL to each of the n meshes. Use Ohm’s law to express the voltages in terms
of the mesh currents.
3. Solve the resulting n simultaneous equations to get the mesh currents.
Engr. Ian D. Valdeztamon, REE
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MESH or LOOP CURRENTS
c R1 d R3 e
V1 V3
I1 I2
VA V2 R2 VB
I1 I2
Mesh 1 Mesh 2
b a f
Engr. Ian D. Valdeztamon, REE
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MESH or LOOP CURRENTS
Example
Given VA = 58 V, VB = 10 V, R1 = 4 ohms, R2 = 3 ohms, and R3 = 2 ohms, find
all mesh currents and voltage drops in the circuit.
c R1 d R3 e
V1 V3
I1 I2 2
4
10 V
VA 58 V V2 R2 3 VB
I1 I2
Mesh 1 Mesh 2
Engr. Ian D. Valdeztamon, REE b a f
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Exercises
1. Find I in the circuit.
Engr. Ian D. Valdeztamon, REE
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Exercises
2. Find Ra-b in the circuit.
Engr. Ian D. Valdeztamon, REE
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Exercises
2. Find Ra-b in the circuit.
Engr. Ian D. Valdeztamon, REE
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Exercises
3. Find voltages v1 and v2.
Engr. Ian D. Valdeztamon, REE
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Exercises
3. Find voltages v1 and v2.
Engr. Ian D. Valdeztamon, REE
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Exercises
3. Find v0 and I in the circuit.
Engr. Ian D. Valdeztamon, REE
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Exercises
3. Find currents and voltages in the circuit
Engr. Ian D. Valdeztamon, REE
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Exercises
3. Find Req.
Engr. Ian D. Valdeztamon, REE
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Exercises
3. Find Req.
Engr. Ian D. Valdeztamon, REE
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Exercises
3. Find Req.
Engr. Ian D. Valdeztamon, REE
