Voltage & Current

Divider
 Circuit Definitions
• Node – any point where 2 or more circuit elements are
connected together
• Wires usually have negligible resistance

• Each node has one voltage (w.r.t. ground)

• Branch – a circuit element between two nodes

• Loop – a collection of branches that form a closed path

returning to the same node without going through any other
nodes or branches twice
Example
• How many nodes, branches & loops?

R1
+

+ Vs Is
R2 R3 Vo
-

-
Example
• Three nodes

R1
+

+ Vs Is
R2 R3 Vo
-

-
Example
• 5 Branches

R1
+

+ Vs Is
R2 R3 Vo
-

-
Example
• Three Loops, if starting at node A

A B
R1
+

+ Vs Is
R2 R3 Vo
-

-
C
 Kirchoff’s Current Law (KCL)
The algebraic sum of the currents entering a
node (or a closed boundary) is zero.
N

i
n 1
n 0

where N = the number of branches connected to

the node and in = the nth current entering 7
(leaving) the node.
Sign convention: Currents entering the node are positive, currents leaving the
node are negative.

i n 0 i2
n 1 i1 i3
i5 i4

i1  i2  i3  i4  i5  0 8
 Kirchoff’s Current Law (KCL)
The algebraic sum of the currents entering
(or leaving) a node is zero.
i2
Entering: i1  i2  i3  i4  i5  0 i1 i3
i5 i4
Leaving: i1  i2  i3  i4  i5  0
The sum of the currents entering a node is
equal to the sum of the currents leaving a
node. 9
i1  i2  i4  i3  i5
 Kirchoff’s Voltage Law (KVL)
The algebraic sum of the voltages around
any loop is zero.
M

v
m 1
m 0

where M = the number of voltages in the loop

and vm = the mth voltage in the loop. 10
 Sign convention: The sign of each voltage is the polarity of the terminal first
encountered in traveling around the loop.

I The direction of travel is arbitrary.

+
R1 V1 Clockwise:

-
A
+ V0  V1  V2  0
R2 V2
V0 Counter-clockwise:
-
V2  V1  V0  0
V0  V1  V2 11
 Voltage Divider Rule

Explain mathematically how a voltage that is applied to

resistors in series is distributed among the resistors.
Voltage Dividers
Resistors in series share the same current
 Voltage Dividers
From Kirchoff’s Voltage Law and Ohm’s Law :
0  Vin  V1  V2

V1  IR1
V2  IR2
Voltage Dividers

From Kirchoff’s Voltage Law and Ohm’s Law :

0  Vin  V1  V2
+
V1 V1  IR1
- V2  IR2
V2  V1 R1 R2

+ V1  R1 R1  R2 Vin

V2 V2  R2 R1  R2 Vin
_
Example 2
• Find the voltages listed in the +
V1
circuit to the right.
-

+
V2
-

+
V3
-
 Example 2 (con’t)
+
Req  200  400  100
V1
Req  700 -

V1  200 / 700 1V 

V1  0.286V +
V2
-
V2  400 / 700  1V 
V2  0.571V

V3  100 / 700  1V  +

V3
V3  0.143V
-
Check: V1 + V2 + V3 = 1V
 Current Divider

I1 I2
R1 R2
V
 Parallel Resistors
I V V
I  I1  I 2  
R1 R2
I1 I2
V
R1 R2 1 1 
V   
 R1 R2 
V

1 1 1 Rp
I  
Rp R1 R2

Rp
V R1 R2
Rp  19
R1  R2
 Current Division
i
v(t ) R2
+
i1 (t )   i (t )
i1 i2 R1 R1  R2
i(t) R1 R2 v(t)
-
v(t ) R1
i2 (t )   i (t )
R2 R1  R2
R1 R2
v(t )  Rpi(t )  i (t )
R1  R2

Current divides in inverse proportion to the resistances

20
Current Division
N resistors in parallel

1 1 1 1
     v(t )  Rpi(t )
Rp R1 R2 Rn

v(t ) Rp
Current in jth branch is i j (t )   i (t )
Rj Rj

21
 Source Exchange
ia ia '
+ +

Rs vs
vab Rs v
ab
Rs
DC vs
- -

We can always replace a voltage source in series with a resistor by a current source
in parallel with the same resistor and vice-versa.
Doing this, however, makes it impossible to directly find the original source current. 22
Example Circuit

Solve for the currents through each resistor

And the voltages across each resistor using
Series and parallel simplification.
Example Circuit

The 6 and 4 ohm resistors are in series, so

are combined into 6+4 = 10Ω
Example Circuit

The 8 and 10 ohm resistors are in parallel, so

are combined into 8∙10/(8+10) =14.4 Ω
Example Circuit

The 10 and 4.4 ohm resistors are in series, so

are combined into 10+4 = 14.4Ω
Example Circuit

+
I1∙14.4Ω
-

Writing KVL, I1∙14.4Ω – 50 v = 0

Or I1 = 50 v / 14.4Ω = 3.46 A