Simple Circuits

&
Kirchoffs Rules

Parallel Circuit

Series Circuit

Simple Series Circuits

Each device occurs one after the other

sequentially.
The Christmas light dilemma: If one light goes
out all of them go out.
R1
V+

R2
R3

Simple Series Circuit Conservation of Energy

In a series circuit, the sum of the voltages is equal

to zero.

Vsource + V1 + V2 + V3 = 0
Where we consider the source voltage to be positive
and the voltage drops of each device to be
negative.
Vsource = V1 + V2 + V3
V1
Since V = IR (from Ohms Law):
Vsource = I1R1 + I2R2 + I3R3
V+
V2

V3

Simple Series Circuit Conservation of Charge

In a series circuit, the same amount of

charge passes through each device.
IT = I 1 = I 2 = I 3
R1
V+

R2

I
R3

Simple Series Circuit Determining

Requivalent

What it the total resistance in a

series circuit?

Start with conservation of energy

Vsource = V1 + V2 + V3
Vsource = I1R1 + I2R2 + I3R3
Due to conservation of charge, ITotal = I1 = I2 =
I3, we can factor out I such that
Vsource = ITotal (R1 + R2 + R3)

Since Vsource = ITotalRTotal:

RTotal = REq = R1 + R2 + R3

Simple Parallel Circuit

A parallel circuit exists where components are

connected across the same voltage source.
Parallel circuits are similar to those used in
homes.

V+

R1

R2

R3

Simple Parallel Circuits

Since each device is connected across

the same voltage source:

Vsource = V1 = V2 = V3

V+

V1

V2

V3

Simple Parallel Circuits Analogy

How Plumbing relates to current

In parallel circuits, the total current is equal to

the sum of the currents through each individual
leg.

Consider your home plumbing:

Your water comes into the house under pressure.

Each faucet is like a resistor that occupies a leg in

the circuit. You turn the valve and the water flows.

The drain reconnects all the faucets before they go

out to the septic tank or town sewer.

All the water that flows through each of the faucets

adds up to the total volume of water coming into the
house as well as that going down the drain and into
the sewer.

This analogy is similar to current flow through a

parallel circuit.

Simple Parallel Circuits

Conservation of Charge & Current

The total current from the voltage source

(pressurized water supply) is equal to the sum
of the currents (flow of water through faucet
and drain) in each of the resistors (faucets)
ITotal = I1 + I2 + I3
ITotal

I1

V+
ITotal

I2

I3

Simple Parallel Circuit

Determining Requivalent

What it the total resistance in a

parallel circuit?

Using conservation of charge

ITotal = I1 + I2 + I3
or

I total

V1 V2 V3

R1 R2 R3

(1)

Since Vsource = V1 = V2 = V3 we can substitute

Vsource in (1) as follows

I total

Vsource Vsource Vsource

R1
R2
R3

( 2)

Simple Parallel Circuit

Determining Requivalent

What it the total resistance in a

parallel circuit (cont.)?

However, since ITotal = Vsource/RTotal substitute in

(2) as follows

Vsource Vsource Vsource Vsource

Rtotal
R1
R2
R3

( 2)

Since Vsource cancels, the relationship reduces to

1
1
1
1

Req R1 R2 R3
Note: Rtotal has been replaced by Req.

(3)

Kirchoffs Rules

Loop Rule (Conservation of Energy):

The sum of the potential drops

(Resistors) equals the sum of the
potential rises (Battery or cell) around
a closed loop.

Junction Rule (Conservation of

Electric Charge):

The sum of the magnitudes of the

currents going into a junction equals the
sum of the magnitudes of the currents
leaving a junction.

Rule #1: Voltage Rule

(Conservation of Energy)

V 0

Loop

R1
V+

R2

R3

Vsource V1 V2 V3 = 0

Rule #2: Current Rule

(Conservation of Electric Charge)

I 0

Junction

I1

I2

I3

I1 + I 2 + I 3 = 0

Example Using Kirchoffs Laws

R1 = 5

1 = 3V +

I1

I2

R2 = 10

R3 = 5
+

I3

2 = 5V

Create individual loops to analyze by Kirchoffs

Voltage Rule.
Arbitrarily choose a direction for the current to
flow in each loop and apply Kirchoffs Junction
Rule.

Ex. (cont.)

Apply Kirchoffs Current Rule (Iin = Iout):

I 1 + I 2 = I3

(1)

Apply Kirchoffs Voltage Rule to the left

loop (v = 0):
1 V1 V2 = 0
1 I1R1 I3R2 = 0

Substitute (1) for I3 to obtain:

1 I1R1 (I1 + I2)R2 = 0

(2)

Ex. (cont.)

Apply Kirchoffs Voltage Rule to the right

loop:
2 V3 V2 = 0
2 I2R3 I3R2 = 0

Substitute (1) for I3 to obtain:

2 I2R3 (I1 + I2)R2

=0

(3)

Ex. (cont.)

List formulas to analyze.

I1 + I2 = I3

(1)

1 I1R1 (I1 + I2)R2 = 0

2 I2R3 (I1 + I2)R2 = 0

Solve 2 for I1 and substitute into (3)

1 I1R1 I1R2 I2R2 = 0

I1R1 I1R2 = I2R2
I1 (R1 + R2) =

I 1 = 1

1 - I2R2

- I2R2

(R1 + R2)

(2)
(3)

Ex. (cont.)

[
IR [
2

I2R2

(R1 + R2)

+ I2 R2 = 0

(1 - I2R2)
(R1 + R2)

2 I2R3

R2 I2R2 = 0

Multiply by (R1 + R2) to remove from denominator.

2 (R1 + R2) I2R3 (R1 + R2) 1R2 + I2R22 I2R2 (R1 + R2) = 0

Plug in known values for R1, R2, R3, 1 and 2 and

then solve for I2 and then I3.

5V(5+10) I25 (5+10) 3V(10) + I2(10)2 I210 (5+10) = 0

I2 = 0.36 A

Ex. (cont.)

Plug your answer for I2 into either

formula to find I1

1 I1R1 (I1 + I2)R2 = 0

1 - I2R2
I1 =

I1 =

(R1 + R2)
3V (0.36A)(10)
(5 + 10)

I1 = -0.04A

What does the negative sign tell you about the

current in loop 1?

Ex. (cont.)

Use formula (1) to solve for I3

I1 + I2 = I3

-0.04A + 0.36A = 0.32A

How to use Kirchhoffs Laws

A two loop example:
R1

I3
I2

I1

R2

2
R3

Analyze the circuit and identify all circuit

nodes and use KCL.
(1) I1 = I2 + I3
Identify all independent loops and use KVL.

(2) 1 I1R1 I2R2 = 0

(3) 1 I1R1 2 I3R3 = 0
(4) I2R2 2 I3R3 = 0

How to use Kirchoffs Laws

R1
I1

I3
I2

R2

R3

Solve the equations for I1, I2, and I3:

First find I2 and I3 in terms of I1 :

I 2 (1 I1 R1 ) / R2

From eqn. (2)

I 3 (1 2 I1R1 ) / R3
Now solve for I1 using eqn. (1):

I1

1 1 2
R R

I1 ( 1 1 )
R2
R3
R2 R3

From eqn. (3)

1 1 2

R
R3
I1 2
R R
1 1 1
R2 R3

Lets plug in some numbers

R1
I2

I1

1 = 24 V

I3

R2

2 = 12 V

Then,

2
R3

R1= 5R2=3R3=4

and
I1=2.809 A

I2= 3.319 A, I3= -0.511 A