Kirchoff's Rule

Mark Ivan G Ugalino

Physics 102.1

MJKL-1
Mr Jan Tristram Acuna
First Semester AY 2014-2015

METHODOLOGY
This experiment was meant to observe Kirchoff's Rules in different configurations. In order
to do so, four different setups of a network of three resistors were done. The schematic diagrams, as
shown below, show a circuit of resistors in series (S1), a circuit of resistors in parallel (S2), a circuit
of resistors in a combination of series and parallel (S3), and the aforementioned setup with two
direct current (DC) power supplies (S4).

In order to administer the configurations, as shown above, a breadboard, generally a tester

for an arbitrary circuit assembly, was used. Three resistors of known resistance were used and were
designated with names R1, R2 and R3. The resistance of each resistor is 15 x 10 2 , 22 x 104 , and
12 x 102 respectively. Two voltage supplies, a variable voltage supply and one with a preset
voltage value, were used. In order to evaluate the voltage of the preset power supply, designated as
P2, a voltmeter was used. Power supply P2 has a voltage reading of 5.00 V and the variable voltage
power supply, P1, was manipulated so as to keep the voltage at 3.00 V.
The voltage and current along each resistor were measured using the multimeter. The
multimeter was connected in parallel with the resistor under observation when the voltage was
being measured. On the other hand, the multimeter was connected in series with the resistor under
observation when the current was being measured. The theoretical values of the voltages and
currents were calculated using the Kirchoff's Rules. The theoretical values and measured values of
the voltages and current were compared.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Table 1. Current (I) values along resistors R1, R2, R3, for different setups S1, S2, S3, S4
Resistor
S1
S2
S3
S4
Observed

Theoretical

Observed

Theoretical

Observed

Theoretical

Observed

Theoretical

R1

0.014 mA 0.022 mA 2.070 mA 2.000 mA 1.166 mA 1.113 mA 1.154 mA 1.103 mA

R2

0.014 mA 0.022 mA 0.014 mA 0.014 mA 0.006 mA 0.006 mA 0.017 mA 0.017 mA

R3

0.014 mA 0.022 mA 2.590 mA 2.500 mA 1.157 mA 1.107 mA 1.168 mA 1.119 mA

As expected, the values of current measured experimentally agrees with Kirchoffs rules,
with some errors accounted for. The error in the data might have been a result of a stray capacitance
in the circuit. An offset of some value ranging from 0.004 mA to 0.006 mA had been observed in
the instrument used. Also, the ammeter used was not ideal, therefore the ammeter has its own
resistance therefore affecting the net resistance of the circuit.
Table 2. Voltage (V) values along resistors R1, R2, R3, for different setups S1, S2, S3, S4
Resistor
S1
S2
S3
S4
Observed

Theoretical

Observed

Theoretical

Observed

Theoretical

Observed

Theoretical

R1

0.02 V

0.03 V

3.05 V

3.00 V

1.71 V

1.67 V

1.74 V

1.65 V

R2

3.02 V

4.84 V

3.05 V

3.00 V

1.35 V

1.33 V

3.66 V

3.74 V

R3

0.02 V

0.03 V

3.05 V

3.00 V

1.35 V

1.32 V

1.41 V

1.34 V

As expected, the values of voltage measured experimentally agrees with Kirchoffs rules,
with some errors accounted for. The error in the data might have been a result of the voltmeter's
non-ideal conditions. Nonetheless, the error was minimal and we can easily see the validity of
Kirchoff's rules even if there was a slight deviation from the theoretical values.
ANSWERS TO GUIDE QUESTIONS
4.1.
What is the implication or significance of Kirchhoffs first rule? Of the second rule?
- The first rule states that the current passing through a junction should be equal to the
sum of the currents passing through the conductors branching out from the junction.
This implies that the charges are conserved even if a subsequent level of
complication was added to the circuit assembly. On the other hand, the second rule
states the summation of potential drops along a traversed loop in a multi-loop circuit
should be equal to zero. This directly implies that the energy in the system, the
circuit, should be conserved even if a subsequent level of complication was added to
the circuit assembly.
4.2.
Show your derivation for measurable quantities for all the circuits based from
Kirchhoffs rules.
- Setup 1 (Series):
(current is the same all throughout the circuit)
Through Ohms Law,
V 1=IR 1
V 2=IR 2
V 3=IR 3
V
Where I =
R 1+ R 2+ R 3
- Setup 2 (Parallel):
(voltage is the same all throughout the circuit)
Through Ohms Law,
V
I 1=
R1
V
I 2=
R2
V
I 3=
R3
1
1
1
+
+
Where V =I
R1 R 2 R 3
- Setup 3 (Combination of Series and Parallel w/ one Voltage supply):

Using Kirchoffs Loop Rule and Junction Rule, a system of equations can be
established,
I 1=I 2+ I 3
V = ( I 1 R 1+ I 3 R 3 )
I 2 R 2 I 3 R 3=0
Since I1 = I2 + I3 we can simplify,

1+ I 3 R 3 )
{V =I( I22RR21+ II33RR3=0
Evaluating I3 by solving for I2 in terms of I3 and substituting it to the first
equation,
VR 2
I 3=
R 3 R 1+ R 1 R 2+ R3 R 2
And,
VR 3
I 2=
R 3 R 1+ R 1 R 2+R 3 R 2
Therefore, from I1=I2+I3,
VR3+VR 2
I 1=
R 3 R 1+ R 1 R 2+ R 2 R 3
V1=I1R1
V2=I2R2
V3=I3R3
-

Setup 4 (Combination of Series and Parallel w/ Two Voltage supplies):

Using Kirchoffs Loop Rule and Junction rule, a system of equations can be
established,
I 1+ I 2=I 3
I 1 R 1+ I 3 R 3=V 1
I 3 R 3+ I 2 R 2=V 2
V 1 V 2=I 1 R 1 I 2 R 2
Since I3 = I1+I2, this system of equations is just the same with,
I 1 R 1+ ( I 1+ I 2 ) R 3=V 1
I 2 R 2+ ( I 1+ I 2 ) R 3=V 2
From this system, we can now reduce this system to an equation for I1 and I2,
If we try to solve for I1 by solving for I2 in the second equation, and
substituting I2 to the first equation,
V 1 R 3+V 1 R 2 V 2 R 3
I 1=
R 1 R 2+ R 1 R 3+ R 2 R3
If we try to solve for I2 by solving for I1 in the first equation, and substituting
I1 to the second equation,
V 2 R 1+V 2 R 3 V 1 R 3
I 2=
R 2 R 1+ R 2 R 3+ R 3 R 1
And I3= I1+I2
V 2 R 1+V 2 R 3 V 1 R 3+V 1 R 3+V 1 R 2 V 2 R 3
I 3=
R 2 R 1+ R 2 R 3+ R 3 R 1

V 1=I 1 R 1
V 2=I 2 R 2
V 3=I 3 R 3

4.3.

The direction one goes around a circuit loop makes no difference in the Loop Rule
equation obtained for the loop. Show this explicitly by going around the loops (in the
two-loop circuit) in the opposite directions.
-Loop 1, Setup 3: (clockwise) The loop equation for this configuration is,
-V1-I1R1-I3R3=0
(1)
(counter-clockwise) The loop equation for this configuration is,
V1 + I1R1 +I3R3=0
(2)
Equation (1) is equivalent to,
-(V1+I1R1+I3R3)=0
(V1+I1R1+I3R3)=0
Therefore, equation (1) is equal to equation (2).
-Loop 2, Setup 3: (clockwise) The loop equation for this configuration is,
I3R3-I2R2=0
(3)
(counter-clockwise) The loop equation for this configuration is,
-I3R3+I2R2=0
(4)
Equation (4) is equivalent to,
-(I3R3-12R2)=0
(5)
I3R3-I2R2=0
(6)
Therefore, equation (3) is equivalent to equation (4).
-Loop 1, Setup 4: (clockwise) The loop equation for this configuration is,
-V1-I1R1-I3R3=0
(7)
(counter-clockwise) The loop equation for this configuration is,
V1 + I1R1 +I3R3=0
(8)
Equation (1) is equivalent to,
-(V1+I1R1+I3R3)=0
(9)
(V1+I1R1+I3R3)=0
(10)
Therefore, equation (7) is equal to equation (8).
-Loop 2, Setup 4: (clockwise) The loop equation for this configuration is,
-V2+I3R3-I2R2=0
(11)
(counter-clockwise) The loop equation for this configuration is,
V2-I3R3+I2R2=0
(12)
Equation (11) is equivalent to,
-(V2-I3R3+I2R2)=0
(13)
V2-I3R3+I2R2=0
(14)
Therefore, equation (11) is equivalent to equation (12).

4.4.

What would be the effective voltage if the two power supply units are connected in
series? In parallel?
- In series, the effective voltage is the sum of the voltages supplied by each power
supply. In parallel, the effective voltage depends on the circuit elements added to the
assembly. If we have two voltage supplies A and B, and we connect them in parallel,
the effective voltage will range from voltage value of A and B.
4.5.
In using a voltmeter to measure V1 and V2 you assumed that when the voltmeter
was connected in parallel with the power supply the terminal voltage remained the same.
This would be true for an ideal voltmeter which has effectively an infinite internal
resistance. However, a real voltmeter has a finite internal resistance and will thus draw
some current from the cell and change its terminal voltage. How does this finite
resistance of the voltmeter affect your measured voltages and therefore your calculated
currents?
- The finite resistance of the voltmeter will let some current along the voltmeter thus
lowering the terminal voltage since the current passes through more circuit elements.

4.6.

In using your ammeter to measure currents you assumed that when the ammeter is
inserted in series in the circuit the current remained the same. This would be true for an
ideal ammeter which has zero internal resistance. A real ammeter has some non-zero
internal resistance. What effect does the resistance of the ammeter have on your
measured currents?
- If an ammeter has an internal resistance, it can increase or decrease the expected
measurement, depending on the internal resistance of the ammeter and the
configuration of the circuit under obervation.