Laboratory 5

Kirchhoffs voltage and current laws

Objective:

o Kirchhoffs voltage law (KVL),

o Kirchhoffs current law (KCL),
o Verify Kirchhoffs voltage and current laws using a given circuit.

Equipment:

o Digilent Electronics Explorer Board,

o Digital Multi-Meter,
o Assorted resistors.

Theoretical support:

o Laboratory 3,
o Laboratory 4,
o Lecture 4 (Microsoft Power Point Support):

Kirchhoffs laws,
Applying Kirchhoffs laws.

Prelab:

Vsource

Fig.1

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 a. Indicate the circuit elements connected in series and the circuit elements connected in
parallel for the circuit shown in Fig.1.
b. Place on the circuit shown in Fig.1 the proper measurement devices to indicate all the
currents and all the voltages. Mention the equipment used and how to connect to the
circuit.

Procedure:

A) For the circuit shown in Fig.1, are given: Vsource=5V, R1=1k, R2=2k, R3=2k and
R4=1k.
a. Calculate all the voltages and currents values using Ohms law and
Kirchhoffs voltage and current laws (KVL and KCL).
b. Record the calculated values in Table 1.
c. Apply an input voltage describe by the following expression:
() = 2 + 2 sin(1570) , []
Calculate the amplitude, the effective value, and the medium value of all the
voltages.
d. Record the calculated values in Table 2.
Table 1 V [V] I [mA] R [k]
Calculated Measured Calculated Measured
VR1, I1
VR2, I2
VR3, I3
VR4, I3
Vsource, I1

Table 2 V [V] (amplitude) Vo [V] (effective value) V0 [V] (medium value)

Calculated Measured Calculated Measured Calculated Measured
vR1(t)
vR2(t)
vR3(t)
vR4(t)
vsurs(t)

B) Construct the circuit shown in Fig.1. using the values below:

R1=1k, R2=2k, R3=2k, R4=1k.

a. Set the power supply (Vsource ) to 5 Volts.

b. Accurately measure all voltages and currents in the circuits using a Digital
Multi-Meter.
c. Record the measurements in Table 1.

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 d. Instead of Vsource, apply an electrical quantity describe by:
() = 2 + 2 sin(1570) , []
Accurately measure the effective value and medium value of all the voltages.
Based on the effective value, determine the amplitude of all the voltages.
e. Record the measurements in Table 2.
f. Verify KVL for the loops in the circuit.
g. Verify KCL for the nodes in the circuits.

Questions for Lab Report:

1. Compare the calculated values to the measured values and provide a brief explanation for
the differences between them.
2. For the circuit shown in Fig.2, are given: R1=1k, R2=2k, R3=1k, R4=R5=2k i
Vi=5V.
Calculated all the voltages and currents.

Fig.2

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 Appendix 1
Connecting the circuit at the power supply of 5 Volts

Applying an electrical quantity instead of 5 Volts.

Measuring the input voltage using the SCOPE module on channel 1

Measuring the voltage on R2 using the SCOPE module on channel 2

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Measuring the voltage on R4 using the SCOPE module on channel 3

Measuring all the voltages using SCOPE module

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 Appendix 2
Connecting the measurements devices to the circuit to measure all the voltages and currents.

Voltmeter

V V

R1 A R3

Vsource R2 V R4 V
V

A A Ammeter

To measure the currents, we need to place the Ammeter in series with resistances (R1, R2, and
respectively R4). Example: To measure the current I1, we need to 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 through the Ammeter and gives us a reading.

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