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Cartoon -Kirchhoff's Laws

Topics
Direct Current Circuits
Kirchhoff's Two Rules
Analysis of Circuits Examples
Ammeter and voltmeter
RC circuits
Demos
Three bulbs in a circuit
Power loss in transmission lines
Resistivity of a pencil
Blowing a fuse
Elmo
Transmission line demo
Kirchhoff's Laws
1. The sum of the potential drops
around a closed loop is zero.
This follows from energy
conservation and the fact that
the electric field is a
conservative force.
2. The sum of currents into any
junction of a closed circuit must
equal the sum of currents out of
the junction. This follows from
charge conservation.
Example (Single Loop Circuit)
How do we apply Kirchhoffs Rule 1?
Must assume the direction of the current assume clockwise.
Choose a starting point and sum all voltages drops around the circuit using
Ohms Law
Example (Single Loop Circuit)
2 1 3 2 1
2 1
1 1 3 2 2 2 1 0
r r R R R
E E
i
ir E iR ir E iR iR
+ + + +

=
= +
a. Potential drop across resistors is negative when traversing in the same direction as
current.
b. Sign of E for a battery is positive when traversing in the same direction as current and
assumed current direction is negative to positive in the battery.
c. Sign of E for a battery is negative when traversing in the same direction as current and
assumed current direction is positive to negative in the battery.
d. Reverse the sign for b and c when you are traversing the circuit in the opposite direction
as the assumed current.
2 1 3 2 1
2 1
r r R R R
E E
i
+ + + +

=
Now let us put in numbers.
V E
V E
r r
R R R
5
10
1
10
2
1
2 1
3 2 1
=
=
O = =
O = = =
Suppose:
32
5
1 1 10 10 10
5 10
=
O + + + +

=
V
i amp
V E
V E
10
5
2
1
=
=
Suppose:
32
5
32
) 10 5 (
=
O

=
V
i
amp
We get a minus sign. It means our
assumed direction of current must be
reversed.
Note that we could have simply added all
resistors and get the R
eq.
and added the EMFs
to get the E
eq.
And simply divided.
32
5
) ( 32
) ( 5
R . e
.
=
O
= =
V E
i
q
eq
amp
Sign of EMF
Battery 1 current flows from - to + in battery +E
1
Battery 2 current flows from + to - in battery -E
2
In 1 the electrical potential energy increases
In 2 the electrical potential energy decreases
Example with numbers
Quick solution:
A
E
I
R
V V V V E
q
eq
i
i
i
i
16
10
R
16
10 2 4 12
. e
.
6
1
3
1
= =
O =
= + =

=
=
Question: What is the current in the circuit?
A amps
V
i
i V
625 . 0 625 . 0
16
10
0 ) 3 1 1 5 5 1 ( ) 2 4 12 (
= =
O
=
= O + + + + + + +
Write down Kirchhoffs loop equation.
Loop equation
Assume current flow is clockwise.
Do the batteries first Then the current.
Example with numbers (continued)
Question: What are the terminal voltages of each battery?
V 375 . 11 1 A 625 . 0 V 12 ir V = O = = s
V 375 . 1 1 A 625 . 0 V 2 ir V = O = = s
V 625 . 4 1 A 625 . 0 V 4 ir V = O + = = s
2V:
4V:
12V:
Multiloop Circuits
Kirchoffs Rules
1. in any loop
2. at any junction
0 =

i
i V

=
out in
i i
Find i, i
1
, and i
2
Rule 1 Apply to 2 loops (2 inner loops)
1.
2.
Rule 2
3.
12 4i
1
3i = 0
2i
2
5 + 4i
1
= 0
2 1
i i i + =
We now have 3 equations with 3 unknowns.
0 2 4 5
0 3 7 12
0 ) ( 3 4 12
2 1
2 1 1
2 1
= +
=
= +
i i
i i
i i i
0 6 12 15
0 6 14 24
2 1
2 1
= +
=
i i
i i
A i
A i
A i
i
0 . 2
5 . 0
5 . 1
26
39
0 26 39
2
1
1
=
=
= =
=
multiply by 2
multiply by 3
subtract them
Find the Joule
heating in each
resistor P=i
2
R.
Is the 5V battery
being charged?
Method of determinants for solving simultaneous equations
5 2 4 0
12 0 4 3
0
2 1
1
2 1
= +
= +
=
i i
i i
i i i
Cramers Rule says if :
a
1
i + b
1
i
1
+ c
1
i
2
= d
1
a
2
i + b
2
i
1
+ c
2
i
2
= d
2
a
3
i + b
3
i
1
+ c
3
i
2
= d
3
Then,
i =
d
1
b
1
c
1
d
2
b
2
c
2
d
3
b
3
c
3
a
1
b
1
c
1
a
2
b
2
c
2
a
3
b
3
c
3
i
1
=
a
1
d
1
c
1
a
2
d
2
c
2
a
3
d
3
c
3
a
1
b
1
c
1
a
2
b
2
c
2
a
3
b
3
c
3
i
2
=
a
1
b
1
d
1
a
2
b
2
d
2
a
3
b
3
d
3
a
1
b
1
c
1
a
2
b
2
c
2
a
3
b
3
c
3
i =
0 1 1
12 4 0
5 +4 2
1 1 1
3 4 0
0 +4 2
=
0
4 0
4 2

'

+
'

1
0 12
2 5

'

+
'

1
12 4
5 4

'

+
'

1
4 0
4 2

'

+
'

1
0 3
2 0

'

+
'

1
3 4
0 4

'

+
'

=
24 + 48 20
8 + 6 + 12
=
52
26
= 2A
You try it for i
1
and i
2
.
See inside of front cover in your book on how to use Cramers Rule.
For example solve for i
Method of determinants using Cramers Rule and cofactors
Also use this to remember how to evaluate cross products
of two vectors.
Another example
Find all the currents including directions.
+8V + 4V 4V 3i 2i
1
= 0
8 3i
1
3i
2
2i
1
= 0
0 12 12 0
0 10 16 6
0 2 4 6
1
1 2
1 2
= +
= +
= + +
i
i i
i i
0 ) 1 ( 2 4 6
2
= + + A i
Loop 1
Loop 2
A i 1 1 =
A i
A i
2
1 2
=
=
Loop 1
Loop 2
i i
i
i
i
1
i
2
i
2
2 1
i i i + =
6i
2
+ 4 + 2i
1
= 0
Multiply red eqn of loop
1 by 2 and subtract from
the red eqn of loop 2
Start here
8 5i
1
3i
2
= 0
Rules for solving multiloop circuits
1. Replace series resistors or batteries with their equivalent values.
2. Choose a direction for i in each loop and label diagram.
3. Write the junction rule equation for each junction.
4. Apply the loop rule n times for n interior loops.
5. Solve the equations for the unknowns. Use Cramers Rule if
necessary.
6. Check your results by evaluating potential differences.
3 bulb question
The circuit above shows three identical light bulbs attached to an ideal
battery. If the bulb#2 burns out, which of the following will occur?
a) Bulbs 1 and 3 are unaffected. The total light emitted by the circuit decreases.
b) Bulbs 1 and 3 get brighter. The total light emitted by the circuit is unchanged.
c) Bulbs 1 and 3 get dimmer. The total light emitted by the circuit decreases.
d) Bulb 1 gets dimmer, but bulb 3 gets brighter. The total light emitted by the circuit is
unchanged.
e) Bulb 1 gets brighter, but bulb 3 gets dimmer. The total light emitted by the circuit is
unchanged.
f) Bulb 1 gets dimmer, but bulb 3 gets brighter. The total light emitted by the circuit
decreases.
g) Bulb 1 gets brighter, but bulb 3 gets dimmer. The total light emitted by the circuit
decreases.
h) Bulb 1 is unaffected, but bulb 3 gets brighter. The total light emitted by the circuit
increases.
i) None of the above.
When the bulb #2 is not burnt out:
R
2
3
2
R
R R
eq
= + =
R 3
V 2
R
V
I
2
3
1
= =
R I P , Power
2
=
R
V
I =
For Bulb #1
For Bulb #2
For Bulb #3
R
V
44 .
R 9
V 4
R I P
2 2
2
1 1
= = =
R 3
V
2
I
I
1
2
= =
R
V
11 .
R 9
V
R I P
2 2
2
2 2
= = =
R 3
V
2
I
I
1
3
= =
R
V
11 .
R 9
V
R I P
2 2
2
3 3
= = =
1
I
2
I
I
1
2
=
2
I
I
1
3
=
R 2 R R R
eq
= + =
R 2
V
I
1
=
R I P , Power
2
=
R
V
I =
For Bulb #1
For Bulb #2
For Bulb #3
R
V
25 .
R 4
V
R I P
2 2
2
1 1
= = =
0 I
2
=
0 R I P
2
2 2
= =
R 2
V
I I
1 3
= =
R
V
25 .
R 4
V
R I P
2 2
2
3 3
= = =
1
I
1 3
I I =
So, Bulb #1 gets dimmer and bulb #3 gets
brighter. And the total power decreases.
f) is the answer.
Before total power was
R
V
66 .
R
V
R
V
P
2
2
3
2
eq
2
b
= = =
R
V
50 .
R 2
V
R
V
P
2 2
eq
2
a
= = =
After total power is
When the bulb #2 is burnt out:
How does a capacitor behave in a circuit with a resistor?
Charge capacitor with 9V battery with switch open..
Remove battery and close the switch.
What happens?
Discharging a capacitor through a resistor
V(t)
Potential across capacitor = V =
just before you throw switch at time t = 0.
Potential across Resistor = iR
Just after you throw the switch
RC
Q
i R i
C
Q o
o o
o
= =
C
Qo
What is the current I at time t?
RC
) t ( Q
) t ( i =
dt
dQ
i but ,
RC
Q
i , So = =
RC
dt
Q
dQ
RC
Q
dt
dQ
=
=
Integrating both the sides

=
RC
dt
Q
dQ
Q = Q
0
e

t
RC
Time constant =RC
Q
0
Q
RC t =
7 . 2
Q
e
Q
=
t
What is the charge Q at time t?
RC
t
0
e Q Q

=
dt
dQ
i =
Ignore - sign
i
t
RC
R
V
0
What is the current?
RC
t
0
RC
t
0
e
R
V
e
RC
Q

= =
How the charge on a capacitor varies with time as it is being charged
What about charging the capacitor?
t
Q
i
t
0 0
Q CV =
Same as before
) e 1 ( CV Q
RC
t
0

=
t
0
e
R
V
i
Note that the current is zero when either the
capacitor is fully charged or uncharged. But the
second you start to charge it or discharge it, the
current is maximum.
Instruments
Galvanometers: a coil in a magnetic field that senses current.
Ammeters: measures current.
Voltmeter: measures voltage.
Ohmmeters: measures resistance.
Multimeters: one device that does all the above.
Galvanometer is a needle mounted to a coil that rotates in a magnetic field.
The amount of rotation is proportional to the current that flows
through the coil.
Symbolically we write
g
R
Usually when
O = 20 R
g
milliAmp 5 . 0 0 I
g
=
Ohmmeter
g s
R R R
V
i
+ +
=
Adjust R
s
so when R=0 the
galvanometer read full scale.
Ammeter
V 10
A 5
O 2
g
I
g
R
s
R
s
I
A 5 I = A 5 I =

A 5 I I I
s g
= + =
s s g g
R I R I =
The idea is to find the value of R
S
that will give a full
scale reading in the galvanometer for 5A
A 5 A 0005 . A 5 I So, , A 10 5 . 0 I and 20 R
s
3
g g
< = - = O =

O = O
-
= =

002 . 0 ) 20 (
A 5
A 10 5 . 0
R
I
I
R , So
3
g
s
g
s
Ammeters have very low resistance when put in series in a circuit.
You need a very stable shunt resistor.
Very small
Voltmeter
Use the same galvanometer to construct a voltmeter for which full scale reading
in 10 Volts.

V 10
O 2
s
R
g
R
I
O =
- =

20 R
A 10 5 . 0 I
g
3
g
What is the value of R
S
now?
) R R ( I V 10
g s g
+ =
A 10 5
V 10
I
V 10
R R
4
g
g s

-
= = +
O = + 000 , 20 R R
g s
O = 980 , 19 R
s
So, the shunt resistor needs to
be about 20KO
Note: the voltmeter is in
parallel with the battery.
We need
Chapter 27 Problem 19
In Figure 27-34, R1 = 100 , R2 = 30 , and the ideal batteries
have emfs script e1 = 6.0 V, script e2 = 5.0 V, script e3 = 3.0 V.
Fig. 27-34
(a) Find the current in resistor 1.
(b) Find the current in resistor 2.
(c) Find the potential difference between points a and b.
Fig. 27-34
Chapter 27 Problem 27
In Figure 27-40, the resistances are R1 = 0.5 , R2 = 1.7 , and the
ideal batteries have emfs script e1 = 2.0 V, and script e2 = script e3 =
3 V.
Fig. 27-40
(a) What is the current through each battery? (Take upward to be
positive.)
battery 1
battery 2
battery 3
(b) What is the potential difference Va - Vb?
Chapter 27 Problem 38
A simple ohmmeter is made by connecting a 4.0 V battery in
series with a resistance R and an ammeter that reads from 0 to 1.00
mA, as shown in Figure 27-47. Resistance R is adjusted so that
when the clip leads are shorted together, the meter deflects to its
full-scale value of 1.00 mA.
Fig. 27-47
(a) What external resistance across the leads results in a deflection
of 10% of full scale?
(b) What resistance results in a deflection of 50% of full scale?
(c) What resistance results in a deflection of 90% of full scale?
(d) If the ammeter has a resistance of 40.0 and the internal
resistance of the battery is negligible, what is the value of R?

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