COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

ELECTRONICS 2 - LABORATORY

ECE 323L-3

KIRCHHOFF’S CIRCUIT LAWS

SUBMITTED BY

BSECE – III

SUBMITTED TO

INSTRUCTOR

RATING

ELECTRONICS 2 LABORATORY
(College of Engineering)
 I. THEORY

The voltages and currents in a DC electric network of any complexity can be

calculated using a set of equations derived based on Kirchhoff’s Circuit Laws.

To formulate Kirchhoff’s Laws, we need to identify nodes (points of

branching in a circuit ) and loops (closed paths). Note that each conductor may be
a part of one or several loops.

Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL or Kirchhoff’s First Law) asserts that the
algebraic sum of currents in any node is equal to zero.

∑ Ik=0
(1)

Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL or Kirchhoff’s Second Law) asserts that the
algebraic sum of potential drops in any closed network is equal to the algebraic
sum of EMFs in the same loop
k m

∑ Ei=∑ IiRi (2)

i=1 i=1

where:

k – the number of EMF sources

m – the number of branches in a closed loop

Ii – current in i−th branch

Ri – resistance of i−th branch

Before writing the expressions according to KVL, you need to decide the
direction in which you are going to consider each loop in the circuit (Fig. 10.1.2-
1).

The sign of each member of the equation is determined based on the

following rules:

- The EMF or voltage is considered positive if its direction coincides

with the selected direction around the loop.

- The voltage drop across the resistor is positive if the current flows
in the selected direction around the loop.

ELECTRONICS 2 LABORATORY
(College of Engineering)
 A complex network can be broken down into several closed loops. A loop is
called independent if it contains a branch (or branches) which aren’t a part of any
other loops.

Based on KCL, we can write the following expression for the node a of the
circuit in Fig. 10.1.2-1:

I ₁+ I ₂+ I ₃=0 (3)

Respectively, the equation for node b:

−I 1−I 2−I ₃=0 (4)

According to KVL, the following expressions can be written for the first and
second loop, respectively:

E ₁=I ₁ R ₁−I ₂ R ₂ (5)

−E ₂=−I ₂ R ₂+ I ₃ R ₃ (6)

From the expressions (5), (6) and for example, (3), we can derive a system of
linear equations describing the circuit:
E ₁=I ₁ R ₁−I ₂ R ₂

−E ₂=−I ₂ R ₂+ I ₃ R ₃

I ₁+ I ₂+ I ₃=0

ELECTRONICS 2 LABORATORY
(College of Engineering)
A good example of KVL’s application is building a circuit’s potential diagram. A
potential diagram is the graph of potential distribution in a circuit or in a closed
loop. The x-axis is the resistance along the loop, starting from any selected point,
and the y-axis are the potentials of corresponding points . To each point in the
circuit or closed loop corresponds one point in the diagram.

As an example, consider the (E1, R1, R3, E2) loop. Let us start from the node b as
the starting point for plot. We shall determine the potential difference on each
resistance on our way around the selected loop. The over a resistance potential will
increase if we go against the current direction, or decrease if we go along the
current direction.

In a section with an EMf source the potential will change by the EMF value;
increase, or decrease, depending on its polarity.

II. GENERAL OBJECTIVE

To experimentally verify Kirchhoff’s First and Second Laws

To measure the currents in various circuit branches and potential drops

across the resistances, plot a diagram of potentials for the loops

III. LIST OF FIGURE AND MATERIALS

1 set of NI Lab view electronics module (hardware)

1 set of NI Lab view electronics module (software)

1 NI Laboratory guide manual

1 set of connecting wires

LABORATORY GUIDE
MANUAL

1 SET NI LAB VIEW

ELECTRONICS MODULE
(HARDWARE)

1 SET NI LAB VIEW

ELECTRONICS MODULE
(SOFTWARE)

ELECTRONICS 2 LABORATORY
(College of Engineering)
1 SET OF
CONNECTING WIRES

DIAGRAM 1 FOR TABLE 2

DIAGRAM 2 FOR TABLE 3

ELECTRONICS 2 LABORATORY
(College of Engineering)
IV. LABORATORY PROCEDURE AND DATA RESULTS

Preparations

1. Make sure that the NI ELVIS II (workstation power switch

must be in position I

2. Set the PROTOTYPING BOARD POWER switch on the NI

ELVIS II workstation into position O

3. Double click on the Kirchhoff’s Circuit Lawsline in the main

menu. Click Next (>>) on the Instruments Panel. An image of
the circuit schematic will open, with the component and device
field positioned appropriately.

4. Assemble the circuit board according to the schematic diagram.

Use the resistance value on the board according to the lab
version assigned by the instructor. Connect ammeter ends with
the same polarity to node a.

TABLE 1

N E1 E2 R1 R2 R3
[V] [V] [Ohm] [Ohm] [Ohm]
1 10 -1 100 200 300
2 9 -2 200 300 400
3 8 -3 300 400 500

ELECTRONICS 2 LABORATORY
(College of Engineering)
Step-by-step Instructions

1. Set the PROTOTYPING BOARD POWERswitch on the NI ELVIS II

workstation into position I. The power led on the board and power indicator
on NI ELVIS iI will turn on.

2. To start the lab, click the Start/Stop button on the Control Panel, then
check the Offset checkbox.

3. Set the voltages of E1: + E(VPS+) and E2: -E (VPS-) according to the lab
version assigned by the instructor, then click Record.

4. Repeat the step 3 above for all assigned versions

5. Based on the obtained experimental data calculate the sum of currents in

nodes a and b for each version.

6. Click Stop, then New Graph.

TABLE 2

Setting Measured Value Calculated Value

N E E R1 R2 R3 A1 A2 A3 ∑ Ia ∑ Ib
1 2
[V] [Ohm] [mA] [mA]
1 10 -1 100 200 300 46 - - 0.3 48.3
27.3 18.4
2 9 -2 200 300 400 27 - - 0.3 97.5
12.5 14.2
3 8 -3 300 400 500 31 3.02 - -6.32 58mA
34.3

ELECTRONICS 2 LABORATORY
(College of Engineering)
Kirchhoff’sVoltage Law

1. Click Next (>>) to open a new circuit.

2. Connect the voltmeters to the assembled circuit in accordance with the

schematic on the screen.

3. To start the lab, click the Start/Stop button on the Control Panel, then
check Offset chechbox.

4. Set the voltages of E1: + E(VPS+) and E2: -E (VPS-) according to the lab
version assigned by the instructor, then click Record.

5. Repeat the step 4 above for all assigned versions

6. Based on the obtained experimental data calculate the sum of EMF’s

potential differences in loops I and II for each version

TABLE 3

Setting Measured Value Calculated Value

E E R1 R2 R3 V1 V2 V3 m n m n

1 2
∑ Ek −∑ Vi ∑ Ek −∑ Vi
k =1 i=1 k =1 i=1

Loop I Loop II
N [V] [Ohm] [V] [V]
1 10 -1 100 200 300 -0.004 9.7 10. -0.7752 -11.3317
8 55
2 9 -2 200 300 400 -5.27 3.6 5.6 8.5946 -2.3326
7 7
3 8 -3 300 400 500 -5.63 2.3 5.1 8.2984 -2.647
3 3

7. Based on the data plot a potential diagram of the loop (E1, R1, R3, E2) for
one version.

8. Click on the MS Excel button to open the file with the obtained data, then
save it.

9. Click Stop.

ELECTRONICS 2 LABORATORY
(College of Engineering)
V. OBSERVATION AND DISCUSSION

a. KIRCHHOFF’s VOLTAGE LAW

Before writing the expressions according to KVL, you need to

decide the direction in which you are going to consider each loop in
the circuit.

b. KIRCHHOFF’s CURRENT LAW

I have observed that to measure the current I₁ without NI ELVIS

II, we need place the Ammeter in series with R1, and for that we open
one end of the resistor R1 and insert the Ammeter in series such that
the current goes thru the Ammeter and gives us a reading. But, in
using the NI ELVIS II, we can easily take a reading from the software
without opening the circuit and using Ammeter.

VI. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

1. What is the value of I₃ if I₁ = 10mA and I₂ = 3mA?

I₂
I₁

I₃

a. -13mA b. 7mA c. -7mA

2. What is the potential difference on the resistor R2 if E1= 6V, E2 =

-1V, R1 = 4k and R2 = 1k?

E2
R1

R2
E1

a. 3V b. 1V c. 2V

ELECTRONICS 2 LABORATORY
(College of Engineering)
VII. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

A. CONCLUSION

The EMF or voltage is considered positive if its direction

coincides with the selected direction around the loop.

The voltage drop across the resistor is positive if the current

flows in the selected direction around the loop.

The total current or charge entering a junction or node is

exactly equal to the charge leaving a node as it has no other
place to except to leave, as no charge is lost within a node.

I(exiting) + I(entering) = 0

I conclude that in any closed loop network, the total voltage

drops within the same loop.

V1 + V2 + V3 = 0

B. RECOMMENDATION

I recommend to use NI ELVIS II with its availble version of

software to minimize errors. Check the USB cable connected to
the NI ELVIS MODULE hardware. The tools installed in the
computer must also be checked, sometimes computers do not
have Microsoft Excel. To avoid convenience be sure to check all
those possible problems that could occur.

VIII. REFERRENCES:

www.electronics-tutorials.ws/dccircuits/dcp_4.html

en.wikipedia.org

Electronics Circuits and Devices – John Melson

IX. TRIVIA

In 1845, a German physicist, Gustav Kirchhoff developed a pair or set

of rules or laws which deal with the conservation of current and energy
within electrical circuits. These two rules are commonly known as:
Kirchhoff’s Circuit Laws with one of Kirchhoff’s laws dealing with the
current flowing around a closed circuit, Kirchhoff’sCurrent Law,

ELECTRONICS 2 LABORATORY
(College of Engineering)
(KCL) while the other law deals with the voltage sources present in a
closed circuit, Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL).

ELECTRONICS 2 LABORATORY
(College of Engineering)