KCL & KVL, Series & Parallel
KCL & KVL, Series & Parallel
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Nodes, Branches and Loops
Circuit elements can be interconnected in
multiple ways.
To understand this, we need to be familiar
with some network topology concepts.
A branch represents a single element such
as a voltage source or a resistor.
A node is the point of connection between
two or more branches.
a path is a sequence of nodes
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Nodes, Branches and Loops
A loop is any closed path in a circuit.
A loop is independent if it contains at least
one branch not shared by any other indep
endent loops.
Two or more elements are in series if they
exclusively share a single node and thus ca
rry the same current.
Two or more elements are in parallel if the
y are connected to the same two nodes an
d thus have the same voltage.
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Nodes, Branches and Loops
these two networks are equivalent
there are three nodes and five branches
Kirchhoff’s Laws
Kirchhoff’s laws are useful in circuit analy
sis.
There are two laws:
Kirchhoff’s Current law (KCL)
Kirchhoff’s Voltage law (KVL)
Kirchhoff’s Current law (KC
L)
Kirchhoff’s current law is based on cons
ervation of charge.
It states that the algebraic sum of current
s entering a node (or a closed boundary) i
s zero.
It can be expressed as:
Kirchhoff’s Current law (KCL)
KCL: Algebraic sum of currents entering
any node is zero.
KCL: Alternative Forms
Current IN is zero:
Current IN = OUT:
Example of KCL Application
Find the current through resistor R3 if it i
s known that the voltage source supplies
a current of 3 A.
Answer: i = 6 A
Kirchhoff’s voltage law (KVL)
Kirchhoff’s voltage law is based on cons
ervation of energy.
It states that the algebraic sum of voltage
s around a closed path (or loop) is zero.
It can be expressed as:
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KV
L)
KVL: Algebraic sum of voltages around a
ny closed path is zero.
KVL: Alternative Forms
Sum of RISES is zero (clockwise from B):
Answer: vx = 8 V and ix = 1 A
Series Connections
Two or more elements are in series if the
y exclusively share a single node and thu
s carry the same current.
Parallel Connections
Two or more elements are in parallel if t
hey are connected to the same two node
s and thus have the same voltage.
Example: Single Loop Circuit
Calculate the power absorbed by each ci
rcuit element.
Answer:
p120V = −960 W, p30 = 1920 W
pdep = −1920 W, p15 = 960 W
Example: Single-Node-Pair
Find the voltage v and the currents i1 and i
2.
Answer: v = 2 V, i1 = 60 A, and i2 = 30 A
Example: Single-Node-Pair
Determine the value of v and the power supplie
d by the independent current source.
Req=𝑅1∥𝑅2
Two resistors in parallel can be combi
ned using the
product / sum
shortcut.
Connecting resistors in parallel make
s the result smaller :
0.5 min(R1, R2) < R1 ‖ R2 < min(R1,R2)
Voltage Division
• The voltage drop across any one resistor c
an be known.
• The current through all the resistors is the
same, so using Ohm’s law:
Where
From this we find that parallel capacitors combi
ne as the sum of all capacitance.
From this we see that the parallel combination
of capacitors resembles the series combination
of resistors.
Series Capacitors
Turning our attention to
a series arrangement of
capacitors:
Here each capacitor sha
res the same current.
Applying KVL to the loo
p:
Where
From this we see that the series combinat
ion of capacitors resembles the parallel c
ombination of resistors.
Series and Parallel Capacitors
Another way to think about the combinations of
capacitors is as follows:
Combining capacitors in parallel is equivalent to
increasing the surface area of the capacitors:
This would lead to an increased overall capacita
nce (as is observed).
A series combination can be seen as increasing t
he total plate separation.
This would result in a decrease in capacitance (a
s is observed).
Series Inductors
We now need to exte
nd the series parallel
combinations to ind
uctors.
First, let’s consider
a series combination
of inductors.
Applying KVL to the l
oop:
Series Inductors
Factoring in the voltage current relationship.
Where
networks.
Transforming between t
hese two topologies oft
en makes the solution o
f a circuit easier.
Wye-Delta Transformations
The superimposed
wye and delta circui
ts shown here will u
sed for reference.
The delta consists o
f the outer resistors,
labeled a,b, and c.
The wye network ar
e the inside resistor
s, labeled 1,2, and 3.
Delta to Wye
The conversion formula for a delta to wye
transformation are:
Wye to Delta
The conversion formula for a wye to delta
transformation are: