Introduction

Kirchoffs Voltage Law (KVL)

The algebraic sum of voltages around each
loop is zero
Beginning with one node, add voltages across
each branch in the loop (if you encounter a + sign
first) and subtract voltages (if you encounter a
sign first)

voltage drops - voltage rises = 0

Or voltage drops = voltage rises

Example
Kirchoffs Voltage Law around 1st Loop
A

I1

I1R1

R1
I2

+
-

Vs

+
+
Is
R2 I2R2

R3

Vo

C
Assign current variables and directions
Use Ohms law to assign voltages and polarities consistent with
passive devices (current enters at the + side)

Example
Kirchoffs Voltage Law around 1st Loop
A

I1

I1R1

R1
I2

+
-

Vs

+
+
Is
R2 I2R2

R3

Vo

C
Starting at node A, add the 1st voltage drop: + I1R1

Example
Kirchoffs Voltage Law around 1st Loop
A

I1

I1R1

R1
I2

+
-

Vs

+
+
Is
R2 I2R2

R3

Vo

C
Add the voltage drop from B to C through R2: + I1R1 + I2R2

Example
Kirchoffs Voltage Law around 1st Loop
A

I1

I1R1

R1
I2

+
-

Vs

+
+
Is
R2 I2R2

R3

Vo

C
Subtract the voltage rise from C to A through Vs: + I1R1 + I2R2 Vs = 0
Notice that the sign of each term matches the polarity encountered 1st

Kirchoffs Current Law (KCL)

The algebraic sum of currents entering a node
is zero
Add each branch current entering the node and
subtract each branch current leaving the node

currents in - currents out = 0

Or currents in = currents out

Example
Kirchoffs Current Law at B
A

I1
R1
I2

+
-

Vs

I3
Is
R2

R3

Vo

C
Assign current variables and directions
Add currents in, subtract currents out: I1 I2 I3 + Is = 0

Series Circuit
Series circuit - has only one path through
which the electricity can flow.

In the above diagram, the electricity flows

through both loads.

Current and Resistance in Series Circuits

For the series circuit the same current flows through
both loads.
The loads can be added together to calculate the
total load.
Rtot = R1 + R2, where Rtot is the total resistance, R1
is the resistance of one load, and R2 is the resistance
of the other.
The total load (resistance) in a series circuit with n
loads is the sum of the resistance of the n objects.
Rtot = R1 + R2 + + Rn.

Total Voltage in a Series Circuit

Ohms Law can be used to calculate the total
voltage in a series circuit by calculating the
sum of the voltage parts.
V = V1 + V2, where V is the total voltage
(battery voltage), V1 is the voltage at the first
load, and V2 is the voltage at the other load.

Parallel Circuits
A parallel circuit has multiple paths through
which the electricity can flow.

In a parallel circuit, the current though one

path may be different than the current
through the other path.

Current in a Parallel Circuit

The total current in a parallel circuit is the sum
of the two parts.
I = I1 + I2, where I is the total current, I1 is the
current through one load, and I2 is the current
through the other load.
I1

I2

Resistance in Parallel Circuits

Using Ohms Law you can derive a formula for
the equivalent resistance of two resistors in
parallel.
I1 = V/R1
I2 = V/R2
I = I1 + I2 = V/R1 + V/R2
= (VR2 + VR1)/R1R2 = V(R2+R1)/R1R2
Rtot = V/(V(R2+R1)/ R1R2 = R1R2/(R1+R2)