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AIR UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING

EXPERIMENT NO 3
Verification of KVL and KCL

Lab Title: Verification of KVL and KCL

Student Name: MUHAMMAD TAQI
Reg. No: 210540

Objective: To develop an understanding of Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL) and

Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL) theoretically and practically.
Date: 27-9-2022

GROUP MEMEBERS ID NO.

USMAN KHAN 210594

MUHAMMAD TAQI 210540

SAIM NAWAZ 210520

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EXPERIMENT NO 3

Verification of KVL and KCL

Objectives:
 To learn, understand, and use of resistors connected in series and parallel.
 To learn the relationships of the total resistance of resistors connected in series and parallel.
 To develop an understanding of Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL) and Kirchhoff’s Current Law
(KCL) theoretically and practically.
 To verify the measured values with the calculated values.

Apparatus:

 Oscilloscope
 Function Generator
 Regulated DC Power Supply
 Digital Multi-meter
 Bread Board
 Resistors

Introduction:
Most common household electrical circuits are made of many devices connected in parallel. Each device
is hooked to the power source in parallel with all the other devices, each connected to the same voltage
source and availing itself of the same voltage. Each device has its own characteristic resistance, and
therefore each draws from the source a different amount of current, depending on its resistive value.
While the voltage being accessed is nearly the same for all devices, the amount of current drawn from the
source increases as each device draws its respective current based on its resistance. As a result as more
and more devices are connected in parallel, the total amount of current drawn from the source increases. It
thus has the effect of causing the resistance to decrease with each additional resistance added. Additional
devices added to a circuit, require additional current from the source until something is overloaded. More
current is required beyond that which can be supplied by the source or carried by the conductors without
burning up. Series circuits are not as common, except for old time Christmas tree lights that are a
challenge to fix when one unknown bulb has burned out and all the rest fail to work. However, all wires
that make connections and the connections themselves qualify as series resistance.
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Wires have resistance that depend on wire sizlength, and type of material. Wires add series resistance to
circuits, just as good and bad connections add also. In order to fully understand electrical circuits and
their behavior, one must first understand Ohm’s Law and the principles regarding resistors in series and
parallel circuits.

Series Resistors:

Series resistors add up in total Resistance; the conditions for series connection is to connect one terminal
from each resistor to the other resistor while the other terminal is connected somewhere else in the circuit,
as shown in figure. The total resistance between a and b, is the summation of the resistors R1, R2 & R3.
They are connected in series since only one terminal of each resistor connected to one terminal of another
resistor.

𝑅T = 𝑅1 + 𝑅2 + 𝑅3

Parallel Resistors

Parallel resistors add up in their total Conductance; the conditions is to connect two terminals from each
resistor to two terminals of the other resistor, as shown in figure. The total resistance between c and d, is
the reciprocal of the summation of the reciprocal of resistors R1, R2 & R3. They are connected in parallel
since only both terminals of each resistor connected to both terminals of another resistor.

1 1 1 1
= + +
𝑅T 𝑅1 𝑅 𝑅3
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Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL):

Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL) in a DC circuit states that “the algebraic sum of the potential
rises and drops around a closed loop (or path) is zero”. In other words, “the sum of the rises
around a closed loop must equal the sum of the drops in potential”. A plus (+) sign is assigned
for the potential rises (- to +) and minus sign (-) is assigned to a potential drop (+ to -).

 Vc = 0, Where c is used for closed loop and V is used for the potential rises and drops.

Analysis of KVL circuit:

For doing a complete analysis of KVL, with the given values of circuit parameters follow the
following steps:
Step 1: Calculate the equivalent resistance of circuit

RT = R1 + R2 + R3

Step 2: Calculate the supply current ISIS

= E / RT

Step 3: Calculate the voltage across different resistors

V1 = ISR1 V2 = ISR2 V3 = ISR3

Step 4: Use KVL to verify

cV = 0 or E – V1 – V2 – V3 = 0 or E = V1 – V2 – V3
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Experimental Procedure:

1. Connect the circuit. Measure the voltage across each elements of the circuit. Fill the
following table with necessary calculations.
2. Verify Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL) by analyzing practical data and support them by
comparing the results with the theoretical values by proper circuit solution.
3. Verify the measured value with calculated value of total circuit. Show necessary
calculation.
4. Comment on the result as a whole.

Calculation:
Step 1:

R1= 2.18kΩ , R2= 1.7kΩ , R3= 3.2kΩ

RT= 2.18kΩ + 1.7kΩ +3.2kΩ
RT=7.08kΩ

Step 2:

Is=E/RT
Is=10V/7.08kΩ
Is=1.41mA

Step 3:

V1=Is*R1
V1= 1.41mA *
2.18kΩ V1= 3.05V

V2=Is*R2
V2= 1.41mA *
1.7kΩ V2= 2.38V

V3=Is*R3
V3= 1.41mA *
3.2kΩ V3= 4.48V

Step 4:

E=V1 + V2 + V3
E= 3.05V + 2.38V + 4.48V
E= 9.91V
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Table 1: CALCULATED VALUES

E (V) V1 V2 V3 V1 + V2 +V3
10V 3.05V 2.38V 4.48V 9.91V

Table 2: MEASURED VALUES

E (V) V1 V2 V3 V1+V2+V3
10 V 4.5V 3.01 2.45V 9.96V

Conclusion:
KVL states that the algebraic sum of all voltages in a closed loop must be equal to zero. A
closed loop is a path in a circuit that does give a return path for a current. The objective of this experiment is
to provide proof of these laws. The errors seemed to increase as the resistor number increased

Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL):

Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL) in a DC circuit states that, “the
algebraic sum of the currents entering and leaving an area, system or junction is zero ”. In
other word, “the sum of the currents entering an area, system or junction must equal the sum
of the currents
leaving the area,
system or
junction”.

 IIN =  IOUT

Analysis of KCL circuit:

For doing a complete analysis of KCL, with the given values of circuit parameters follow the following steps:

Step 1: Calculate the equivalent resistance of

circuit: RT = [(1/R1) + (1/R2) + (1/R3)]-1

Step 2: Calculate supply current IS = E / RT

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Step 3: Calculate the current through different

branches: I1 = E / R1 I2 = E / R2 I3 = E /

R3

Step 4: Use KCL to verify:

IIN = IOUT or IS = I1 + I2 + I3

Experimental Procedure:

1. Connect the circuit. Measure the voltage across each elements of the circuit. Fill the
following table with necessary calculations.
2. Verify Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL) by analyzing practical data and support them by
comparing the results with the theoretical values by proper circuit solution.
3. Verify the measured value with calculated value of total circuit. Show necessary
calculation.
4. Comment on the result as a whole.

Calculation:

Step 1:

I=0.2A, R1=2.18kΩ, R2= 1.7kΩ, R3= 3.2kΩ

1/RT = 1/R1 + 1/R2 +1/R3

1/RT=1/2.18kΩ +1/1.7kΩ + 1/3.2kΩ

1/RT= 0.45m/1Ω + 0.58m/1Ω + 0.31m/1Ω

1/RT= 1.34m/1Ω

RT= 0.74kΩ

Step 2:

Is=E/RT

Is= 10/0.74kΩ

Is= 13.5mA
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Step 3:
I1=E/R1
I1=10V/ 2.18kΩ
I1=4.58mA

I2=E/R2
I2=10V/1.7kΩ
I2=5.88mA

I3=E/R3
I3=10V/3.2kΩ
I3=3.12mA

Step 4:

Is = I1 + I2 + I3
Is= (4.58+5.88+3.12) mA
Is= 13.58mA

Table 1: CALCULATED VALUES

I (mA) I1(mA) I2(mA) I3(mA) (I1 + I2 +I3) (mA)

13.58 4.58 5.88 3.12 13.59

Table 2: MEASURED VALUES

I (mA) I1(mA) I2(mA) I3(mA) (I1 + I2 +I3) (mA)

13.4 4.5 5.8 3.1 13.4

Discussion:

KCL deals with the current flowing into and out of a single node. It states that the sum of
the current flowing into the node and the current flowing out from the node must equal to
zero.

Conclusion:
The purpose of this experiment was to verify Kirchhoff's current and voltage laws. One can
see from the data and explanations provided in the Discussion that this purpose was met. When the currents
going in and out at node N1 in Figure 1 were added together, the sum was approximately zero. Kirchhoff’s
current law was therefore found to be correct. When the voltages around the loop of Figure 2were added
together, the sum was approximately zero. Kirchhoff's voltage law was therefore found to be correct. The
data collected did not come to be exactly zero when added together, but this is expected due to experimental
error when using different devices.