Text section 28.

3
Kirchhoffs circuit rules

Practice:
Chapter 28, problems 17, 19, 25, 26, 43

Junction Rule: total current in = total current out

at each junction (from conservation
of charge).

Loop Rule: Sum of emfs and potential differences

around any closed loop is zero (from
conservation of energy).

Junction Rule: conservation of charge.

I2

I1

I 1 = I2 + I 3

I3

or
I 1

I2 (= -I2)

I 1 + I 2 + I 3 = 0

I3 (= -I3)

Loop Rule: conservation of energy.

Follow a test charge q around a loop:
around any loop in
circuit.

-Q

+Q

changes going from left to right

V = -IR
V = +IR
V =
V = Q/C

18
9V

b
6

I2

I1

3V
a

Find the current

through each battery.

c
3
I3

18

The junction rule

will give:
A) I1 + I2 + I3 = 0
B) -I1 + I2 + I3 = 0
C) I1 - I2 + I3 = 0
D) I1 + I2 - I3 = 0
E)none of these

9V

b
6

I2

I1

3V
a

c
3
I3

18
9V

b
6

I2

I1

3V
a

Find the current

through each battery.

c
3

I3 = - (I1 + I2)
d

18

The junction rule

will give:
A) I1 + I2 + I3 = 0
B) -I1 + I2 + I3 = 0
C) I1 - I2 + I3 = 0
D) I1 + I2 - I3 = 0
E)none of these

9V

b
6

I2

I1

3V
a

c
3
I3

18

The loop rule applied to

loop abcda will give:

9V

b
6

I2

I1

c
3

3V
a

I3
d

A) 9A - 18I1 -3I3 = 0
B) 9A + 18I1 -3I3 = 0
C) 9A + 18I1 +3I3 = 0
D) 9A - 18I1 +3I3 = 0
E)none of these

18

The loop rule applied to

loop abda will give:

9V

b
6

I2

I1

3V
a

c
3
I3

A) 12A - 18I1 + 6I2 = 0

B) 12A - 18I1 - 6I2 = 0
C) 6A - 18I1 - 6I2 = 0
D) 6A + 18I1 + 6I2 = 0
E) 6A - 18I1 + 6I2 = 0

18
9V

b
6

I2

I1

3V
a

Find the current

through each battery.

I3 = - (I1 + I2)
d

Answers: I1 = 400 mA, I2 = 200 mA

18
9V

b
I2

I1

c
6

3V
a

3
I3 = - (I1 + I2)

Solution:
Loop abcda:

..... 1

Loop dbcd:
7 2 - 1 : 60 I2 = 12A

Junction b:
I 1 + I2 + I3 = 0
so I3 = -(I1 + I2)

..... 2
I2 = 200 mA

3 1 - 2 : 60 I1 = 24A

I1 = 400 mA

10
6V

b
20

I2

I1

I3 = - (I1 + I2)

c
20

I2
a

Find the current

through each battery.

10

I1

40

3V

6V

3V

40

Find the current

through each battery.

I3 = - (I1 + I2)
d

Answers: I1 = 171 mA, I2 = -64.3 mA

10
6V

b
I2

I1

c
20

40

3V

Solution:
Loop abcda:

I3 = - (I1 + I2)

Junction b:
I 1 + I2 + I3 = 0
so I3 = -(I1 + I2)

..... 1

Loop dbcd:

..... 2

4x 1 - 5x 2 : -140 I2 = 9

I2 = -64 mA

3x 1 - 2x 2 : 70 I1 = 12 I1 = 171 mA

12 V

200

200

600

300
d

What is Vab (i.e., Va - Vb ) when the switch is open?

Exercise for fun: Find the current through the
switch when it is closed.

The loop rule requires

that Vab (i.e., Va - Vb )

200

I1

200

obeys:

600

A)
B)
C)
D)

Vab = (200)I1 + (200)I2

Vab = (200)I1 - (200)I2
Vab = -(200)I1 + (200)I2
Vab = -(200)I1 - (200)I2

I2

300
d

c
2

Reff = ?

b
1

Series and parallel rules dont help in this case. You

have to go back to the fundamentalsKirchhoffs
Circuit Rules.
(Answer: Reff = 1.4 )

Reff = VTOTAL/ITOTAL
ITOTAL

I1

VTOTAL

1
a

I4

I3

2
b

2
d

Show that:

I2

I5

I1 = I 5 = 3I 3
I 2 = I 4 = 2I 3
ITOTAL= 5I3
VTOTAL= (7) I3

1) Use Kirchhoffs rules to write everything in terms

of, one variable, e.g., I3.
2) Divide VTOTAL/ITOTAL .

Reff = VTOTAL/ITOTAL
ITOTAL

I1

VTOTAL

1
a

I4

I3

2
b

2
d

Show that:

I2

I5

I1 = I 5 = 3I 3
I 2 = I 4 = 2I 3
ITOTAL= 5I3
VTOTAL= (7) I3

1) Use Kirchhoffs rules to write everything in terms

of, e.g., I3. (Results: I1 = I5 = 3I3, I2 = I4 = 2I3; ITOTAL= 5I3;
VTOTAL= (7) I3.)

2) Divide VTOTAL/ITOTAL .

10

Solution to part A:

c
250
12 V

I1
a
I1 + I 3

Solution to part b:

I2
100

I3

Loop adba:

400

250
d

I1 - I3

Loop abca:

2
Then:
Solve

11

R1

V1
V

R2

V2

and
(from

; and

etc)

c
3

Reff = ?

b
4

Notice that series and parallel dont help in this

case. You have to go back to Kirchhoffs Rules.
(Answer: Reff = ( 155/74 ) )

12