I.

OBJECTIVES
 To test Kirchhoff's laws experimentally

II. MATERIALS
 Basic Electricity Trainer
 Power Supply Unit
 Digital Multimeter
 Jumper
 Extension
 Power Cord
 White Cord

III. DISCUSSION
In the last chapter we found that the same current that was produced by the power
supply flowed through each component in a series circuit. Each component has a voltage
across it which depends on its resistance value ( VRi; = Ri.I ).
As the sum of the resistances Rị is equal to Req (ERi; = Req), the sum of the
voltage drops across the resistors is equal to the total voltage produced by the power
supply:
V=Req. I = (ERi). I = (EVRi)
This relation, known as "Kirchhoff's voltage law" can be expressed in two
different ways:
 the sum of the voltages present across the resistors is equal to the applied
emf: V = EVi
 the algebraic sum of all the voltages around a closed circuit is equal to
zero: V + EVi = 0
In case of series circuits, the following formula can be used, obtained from the
Ohm's and Kirchhoff's laws:
VRi= Ri . V/Req
This enables the direct calculation of the voltage across the terminals of any
component: provided its resistance value, the equivalent resistance of the circuit and the
voltage produced by the power supply are known.
In the last chapter, we saw that in a parallel circuit each component has the same
voltage across it, which is also the voltage of the power supply. The current through any
component simply depends on its resistance. (IRi = V/Ri = V.Yi). As the sum of the
admittances Yi is equal to Yeq(Yeq = EYi), the sum of currents in the resistances is equal
to the current produced by the power supply:
I = V.Yeq = V.EYi = E(V.Yi) = E(IRi)

This relation, known as "Kirchhoff's current law", can be expressed in two different
ways:
 at any junction point (or “node"), the sum of the currents flowing into
the junction is equal to the sum of the those flowing out: Elin =Elout
  the algebraic sum of the current present at any node of a circuit is
equal to zero: Elin = 0
In case of parallel circuits, the following formula can be used, which comes from
Ohm's and Kirchhoff's laws:
IRi = Yri · I/Yeq
This allows the current through any component to be calculated, provided its
resistance value, the equivalent resistance of the circuit and total power supply current are
known.

IV. PROCEDURE
Checking Kirchhoff's Law for Currents
 Refer to the section PARALLEL AND SERIES RESISTIVE CIRCUITS
 Connect the jumpers J25, J27, J28, J29. insert the mA between the points 29-30,
and the voltmeter between the points 31-32 to obtain the circuit of the figure
E06.1

Fig. E06.1
 measure the voltage V and the current I produced by the power supply
 connect the ammeter in the place of the jumpers J25 (points 33-34) and J27
(points 35-36) according to the diagram of figure E06.2, and measure the currents
lA1 and IA2
 insert J24.

Fig. E06.2

 with the help of the ammeter's polarity, the voltages across the resistances R12,
R13 and the power supply voltage, define the currents I, IAi, IA2 for the node A:
 Note the currents I, IA1, IA2 and their directions, for node A
(currents into the node are positive, those out of the node are negative)
  move the ammeter into the place of jumpers J28 (points 37-38) and J29 (points
39-40) and reconnect jumpers J25 and 27 according to the diagram of figure
E06.3
 measure the currents IR13 and IR14
Calculating Current and Resistance Values using Kirchhoff’s and Ohm’s Laws
 Disconnect jumper J25 and connect jumper J26 to produce the circuit of figure
E06.4

Figure E06.4
 Adjust the trimmer RV4 to mid-position
 Measure the current produced by the power supply
 Using the values of IR13 and IR14 found previously, calculate the current coming
from node A which flows through resistors R12 and RV4 using Kirchhoff’s law
 Apply Ohm’s law to calculate the value of the equivalent resistances of series
R12-RV4
 Knowing that R12 is 1kΩ, calculate the resistance of RV4
Experimental Verification of Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law
 Refer to the section PARALLEL AND SERIES RESISTIVE CIRCUITS II
 Connect the jumpers J31, J34, the ammeter between 45-46 and the voltmeter
between 47-48 as in the diagram of figure E06.5

Fig. E06.5
 Measure the voltage, V and current I produced by the power supply
 Then move the voltmeter to measure the voltage across the terminals of each of
the resistors R15, R17, R18. Record the voltage across the terminals of each
resistor in the following table.
 Calculate, using the measured value of I (Vi=Ri ● I) the voltage across each
resistor, and record those values in the same table, also
 Add the different values Vi obtained
Calculating Voltage and Resistance Values using Kirchhoff’s and Ohm’s Laws
 Refer to the section SERIES RESISTIVE CIRCUITS
 Connect jumpers J19, J21, J23, the ammeter between 23-24 to produce the circuit
of fig.E06.6
 Fig. E06.6
 Adjust the trimmer RV3 to tis maximum value of resistance turning anticlockwise
direction
 Measure the current I through the circuit
 Calculate the voltage across the resistors R9 and R10 (VRi = Ri I)
 Apply Kirchhoff’s voltage law to find the voltage across the terminals of
RV3//R11
 Apply Ohm’s law to determine the value of the resistance RV3//R11 (R=V/I)

V. DATA AND RESULTS

Checking Kirchhoff’s Laws for Currents
Q1 With these data can we say that Kirchhoff's principle: IA1+IA2+I=0 applied to
the node A is proved? (allowing for small errors)
 1 no because it is a series circuit
 2 no
 3 no because the current is over
 4 yes because it is a series circuit
 5 yes

Q2 Can we now say that Kirchhoff's current law is also proved for node B? (allowing
for small errors)
 1 yes, in this case too, Kirchhoff's law is proved
 2 no, because the total resistance of the circuit is too high
 3 no, because the 2 ammeters are in series
 4 no, because the 2 ammeters indicate the same current
 5 none of the above
Q3 Is the sum of the currents through the 3 resistors equal to the supply current?
 1 No, because the 3 resistances are different
 2 No, because the electrical power dissipation is too high
 3 Yes, because it is a parallel circuit
 4 Yes, because it is a series circuit
 5 No, because the voltage is too low

Calculating Current and Resistance Values using Kirchhoff’s and Ohm’s Laws
Q4 Which value of RV4 trimmer inserted in the circuit?
 1 200%
 2 100%
 3 50%
 4 33%
 5 25%

Experimental Verification of Kirchhoff’s Voltage LAw

VR15 VR17 VR18 ƩVi V I

MEASURED
VALUE
CALCULATE
D
VALUE
Q5 Do the results obtained verify Kirchhoff’s law: V = VR15+VR17+VR18?
 1 No
 2 No because there is a parallel circuit
 3 Yes
 4 No because the voltage never reaches 2 Volt
 5 Yes, although there are slight differences between the 2 total
voltages due to small measurement errors

Calculating Voltage and Resistance Values using Kirchhoff’s and Ohm’s Laws
Q6 What is the resistance RV3//R11, approximately?
 1 0 ohm
 2 10 kOhm
 3 1.1 kOhm
 4 5 kOhm
 5 900 Ohm
 6 100 Ohm

Q7 The voltage across R11//RV3 has now changed. Why?

  1 R9 has increased
 2 R10 has reduced
 3 R9 and R10 have increased
 4 R11//RV3 has reduced
 5 R11//RV3 has increased
 6 the power supply voltage has decreased

Analysis

SUMMARY QUESTIONS
Q8 A series circuit of 5 resistors R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 has a current of 13.4 mA
through it and its supplied from a voltage of 220V. Given that R1=4.kΩ,
R2=8.2kΩ, R3=220Ω, R4=390Ω what is the value of R5?
 1 4.7 kΩ
 2 2.9 kΩ
 3 6.7 kΩ
 4 326 Ω
 5 15 kΩ
Q9 A series circuit of total resistance equivalent to 398kΩ is connected to a voltage
of 110V. Across the terminals of one resistors of the circuit, a voltage of 13V is
measured. What is the resistance?
 1 110 Ω
 2 13 kΩ
 3 389 kΩ
 4 47 kΩ
 5 100 kΩ
Q10 A parallel resistive circuit, with equivalent resistance equal to 8.2 kΩ takes 750
mA from the power supply. One of the resistors has a current through it of 110
mA. What is tis resistance?
 1 8.2 kΩ
 2 220 Ω
 3 5.6 kΩ
 4 56 kΩ
 5 10 kΩ

VI. Conclusion
I. Objectives
 To calculate electrical power
 To compare variation of power with increasing voltage

II. Materials
 Basic Electricity Trainer
 Power Supply Unit
 Digital Multimeter
 Jumper
 Extension
 Power Cord
 White Cord

III. Discussion
The unit of electrical power is defined as the work done in one second by
a charge of 1 Coulomb moving through a potential of 1 Volt. As 1 Coulomb per
second is 1 Ampere, we obtain the result that the power of an electrical system is
the product of current and voltage:
P= V∙I
The unit of power is the Watt (symbol W).
In case of a resistive component, the power dissipated in it, e.g. in heat
and/or light, can be calculated with the help of Ohm's law. The following
expressions result:
P= V2/R P=R∙I2
The value of a metallic resistor increases when its temperature increases,
and consequently with the power it dissipates.

IV. Procedure
Power Calculations
 Refer to the section PARALLEL RESISTIVE CIRCUITS I
 Connect J12, J15 and J17, the ammeter between 13 and 14 and the voltmeter
between 15 and 16, to produce the circuit of fig.E11.1

fig.E11.1

 Rotate RV2 and measure the current through R8 for the voltage values
indicated in the following table
 Calculate the power dissipated by the resistance (P=V∙I)
V. Data and Results
Voltage Measured Current Power Theoretical Power
(V) (mA) (W) P = V2/R
0
4
8
12

Q1 How does the power vary when the voltage increases?

 1 It diminishes
 2 It increases
 3 It keeps constant
 4 It increases up to 4 V and then drops
 5 It is zero
Analysis

Summary Questions
Q4 What power is dissipated by a resistance with a voltage of 7.5V across it and 300
mA through it?
 1 25 W
 2 40 W
 3 2.25 W
 4 7.5 W
 5 330 W
 6 225 W

Q5 What value of resistance will dissipate 38.4 W with a current of 80 mA flowing

through it?
 1 6 kΩ
 2 480 Ω
 3 3.1 Ω
 4 38.4 Ω
 5 1 kΩ
 6 7Ω

Q6 A 30-kΩ resistance is designed to dissipate a maximum power of 900W. What is

the current through it if the dissipated power is one third the maximum?
  1 3 mA
 2 0.9 A
 3 30 A
 4 100 mA
 5 22.5 A
 6 12 A

Q7 What is the voltage across a 2.2-kΩ resistance which is dissipating 88W?

 1 440 V
 2 40 V
 3 193.6 V
 4 44 mV
 5 220 V
 6 125 V

VI. Conclusion