North South University

Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering

LAB REPORT

Course Code: EEE141L.

Course Title: Electrical circuits 1 lab.
Course Instructor: Dr. Md. Aynal Haque (Tabia Hossain).
Experiment Number: 02
Experiment Name:
KCL, Current Divider Rule with Parallel and Ladder Circuit.

Experiment Date: 06/11/2021

Date of Submission: 12/11/2021
Section: 13
Group Number:
Submitted To: Tabia Hossain.
Submitted By Score

Name: Sheaikh Nazibur Rahman.

ID: 2021572642
Objective :
• Learn how to connect a parallel circuit on a breadboard.
• Validate the current divider rules.
• Verify Kirchhoff’s current law.
• Verify KCL and KVL in ladder circuit.

List of Equipment:
• Breadboard
• Resistors (1K, 3.3 KΩ, 4.7 KΩ, 5.6K, 10K)
• Digital Multimeter (DMM)
• Connecting Wire

Theory:
Kirchhoff’s voltage law (KVL): If there is a close loop in a circuit then the
sum of voltage difference in this loop will be zero. A close loop is any path which
ends at the same point at which it starts. Or another way to say, the sum of the
currents entering a node is equal to the sum of the currents leaving the node.

From the above figure we see that, currents i1, i3, and i4 are entering the node,
while currents i2 and i5 are leaving it. By applying KCL we get,
i1 + i3 + i4 = i2 + i5
Current Division Rule: Current Divider Circuits are parallel circuits in which
the source or supply current divides into a number of parallel paths. In a parallel
connected circuit, all the components have their terminals connected together
sharing the same two end nodes. This results in different paths and branches for the
current to flow or pass along. The currents can have different values through each
component.
For two parallel resistors the current division rule is:

For three resistors in parallel:

𝟏
Req=[ 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 ]
+
+
𝑹𝟏 𝑹𝟐 𝑹𝟑

𝑰𝑹𝟏 =(𝑹𝒆𝒒/ 𝑹𝟏)× 𝑰𝑻

𝑰𝑹𝟐 =(𝑹𝒆𝒒/𝑹𝟐)× 𝑰𝑻
𝑰𝑹𝟑 =(𝑹𝒆𝒒/𝑹𝟑)× 𝑰𝑻

Ladder Circuit: The ladder circuit represents a commonly used circuit style
that is configured purely on the basis of series and parallel connections.
Circuit Diagram:
R4
1 2
1.0kΩ

XMM1
E
10V R1 R2 R3
3.3kΩ 4.7kΩ 5.6kΩ
3

Circuit diagram:1

XMM1

R1 R3 R5
1 2 3
1.0kΩ 4.7kΩ 1.0kΩ
4

E R2 R4 R6
12V 10kΩ 3.3kΩ 1.0kΩ

Circuit diagram:2 (For voltage)

XMM1

5
R1 R3 R5
2 3
1 1.0kΩ 4.7kΩ 1.0kΩ
4

E R2 R4 R6
12V 10kΩ 3.3kΩ 1.0kΩ

Circuit diagram:2 (For current)

Results/Data/Readings:

Table 2:
Experimental readings Theoretical Values
IS IR1 IR2 IR3 IS IR1 IR2 IR3
4.098mA 1.798mA 1.256mA 1.054mA 4.098mA 1.788mA 1.255mA 1.053mA
%Error
IS IR1 IR2 IR3
0% 0.5% 0.07% 0.09%

Theoretical Values Calculation:

RT=1+1/{(1/3.3)+(1/4.7)+(1/5.6)}
=2.44 Ω
Therefore,
(1) IS=VT/RT =10V/2.44Ω
=4.0983mA
Here,
𝟏
Rp=[ 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 ]
+ +
𝑹𝟏 𝑹𝟐 𝑹𝟑

𝟏
=[ 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 ]
+ +
𝟑.𝟑 𝟒.𝟕 𝟓.𝟔

=1.4401Ω
𝐑𝐩
(2) IR1= × 𝐈𝐓
𝐑𝟏
1.440
= × 4.098
3.3

=1.788mA
𝐑𝐩
(3) IR2= × 𝐈𝐓
𝐑𝟐
1.440
= × 4.098
4.7

= 1.255mA
𝐑𝐩
(4) IR3= × 𝐈𝐓
𝐑𝟑
1.440
= × 4.098
5.6

= 1.053mA
Percentage Error:
(1) IS= (4.098-4.098)/ 4.098 =0
(2) IR1= (1.798 -1.788)/ 1.788=0.005
(3) IR2= (1.256-1.255)/ 1.255=0.0007
(4) IR1= (1.054-1.053)/ 1.053=0.009
Table 3:
IS 4.098mA Is Total Current equal to sum individual
current?
Sum of individual
Current 4.108mA Almost equal.
(IR1+IR2+IR3)

(IR1+IR2+IR3) = 1.798mA+1.256mA+1.054mA
= 4.108mA

Table 4:
Experimental Req Theoretical Req %Error
2.44kΩ 2.44kΩ 0%

𝟏
Req= 𝑅 + [ 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 ]
+ +
𝑹𝟏 𝑹𝟐 𝑹𝟑

𝟏
=1 + [ 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 ]
+ +
𝟑.𝟑 𝟒.𝟕 𝟓.𝟔

=1+1.4401Ω
=2.440Ω

Percentage Error: (2.44kΩ-2.44kΩ)/2.44kΩ = 0

Table 5:
Component Voltage Current
E 12V 12A
R1 2.538V 2.538 mA
R2 9.462V 946.2μA
R3 7.48V 1.592 mA
R4 1.982V 600.586μA
R5 990.965mV 990.966μA
R6 990.965mV 990.966μA
Questions and Answers:
1. State the current division rule.
- Current Divider Circuits are parallel circuits in which the source or supply current
divides into a number of parallel paths. In a parallel connected circuit, all the
components have their terminals connected together sharing the same two end
nodes. This results in different paths and branches for the current to flow or pass
along. The currents can have different values through each component.
2. State the Kirchhoff’s current law (KCL).
- If there is a close loop in a circuit then the sum of voltage difference in this loop
will be zero. A close loop is any path which ends at the same point at which it
starts. Or another way to say, the sum of the currents entering a node is equal to the
sum of the currents leaving the node.
3. With the experimental data, verify Kirchhoff’s voltage law within each
independent closed loop of the circuit.
- Loop 1, Vs=V1+V2
=2.538+9.462
=12V
Here , Vs = V1+V2, so first loop follows KVL.

Loop 2, V2= V3+V4

=7.48+1.982
=9.462
Here , V2=V3+V4, so second loop follows KVL.

Loop 3: V4=V5+V6
=0.991+0.991
=1.982 V
Here , V4=V5+V6, so third loop follows KVL.

4. With the experimental data, verify Kirchhoff’s current law at nodes a and b
of the circuit.
Node a:
I1= I2+I3
= 0.9462+1.592
=2.5382
=I1
Node b:
I3=I4+I5
=0.6006+0.991
=I3
Here, I1= I2+I3 & I3=I4+I5. So, KCL is verified at node a and b.

5. Showing all steps, calculate the theoretical values in Table 2. Compare

theoretical values to your experimental values and explain whether your
circuit follows KCL or not.
- Theoretical Values Calculation:
RT=1+1/{(1/3.3)+(1/4.7)+(1/5.6)}
=2.44 Ω

Therefore,
(1) IS=VT/RT =10V/2.44Ω
=4.0983mA
Here,
𝟏
Rp=[ 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 ]
+ +
𝑹𝟏 𝑹𝟐 𝑹𝟑

𝟏
=[ 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 ]
+ +
𝟑.𝟑 𝟒.𝟕 𝟓.𝟔

=1.4401Ω
𝐑𝐩
(2) IR1= × 𝐈𝐓
𝐑𝟏
1.440
= × 4.098
3.3

=1.788mA
𝐑𝐩
(3) IR2= × 𝐈𝐓
𝐑𝟐
1.440
= × 4.098
4.7

= 1.255mA
𝐑𝐩
(4) IR3= × 𝐈𝐓
𝐑𝟑
1.440
= × 4.098
5.6

= 1.053mA
Is= IR1+IR2+IR3
=1.788+1.255+1.053

=4.108mA
≈4.098mA
So, It follows KCL’s law.

6. Showing all the steps, theoretically calculate Req. Compare with the
experimental value.
- Theoretical Values Calculation:
 𝟏
Req= 𝑅 + [ 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 ]
+ +
𝑹𝟏 𝑹𝟐 𝑹𝟑

𝟏
=1 + [ 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 ]
+ +
𝟑.𝟑 𝟒.𝟕 𝟓.𝟔

=1+1.4401Ω
=2.440Ω
XMM1

R4
1 2
1.0kΩ

R1 R2 R3
3.3kΩ 4.7kΩ 5.6kΩ

So, theoretical value and experimental value are same.

7. Calculate all the theoretical values for Table 5. Show all steps.
XMM1

R1 R3 R5
1 2 3
1.0kΩ 4.7kΩ 1.0kΩ
4

R2
10kΩ R4 R6
3.3kΩ 1.0kΩ

Here total resistance of this circuit is 4.729kΩ and E=12V

Therefore,
I=E/R1 =12/4.729
=2.538mA
1. R1=1Ω, VR1= 2.532V
So, IR1= VR1/ R1
=2.532/1
=2.532mA
2. R2=10Ω, VR2= 9.462V
So, IR2= VR2/ R2
=9.462 /10
=0.9462 mA
3. R3=4.7Ω, VR3= 7.480V
So, IR3= VR3/ R3
=7.480 /4.7
=1.591 mA
4. R4=3.3Ω, VR4= 7.982V
So, IR4= VR4/ R4
=7.982 /4.3.3
=10.6006 mA
5. R5=1Ω, VR5=990.965mV
So, IR5= VR5/ R5
=0.991mA
6. R6=1Ω, VR6=990.965mV
So, IR6= VR6/ R6
=0.991mA

Discussion:
- I learned from this experiment what is Kirchhoff’s Current Law, Current
Division Rule in two different types one is for two parallel resistors and another is
for more than two resistors. A circuit that has parallel and series resistors is called
a ladder circuit. Sometimes the experimental values and theoretical values may not
equal. That’s why I get some errors. I faced some problems making the tables.