Lecture 3: Basic Laws:

Ohms Law
Basic Laws

1. Ohm’s Law
2. Nodes, Branches, and Loops
3. Kirchhoff’s Laws
4. Series Resistors and Voltage Division
5. Parallel Resistors and Current Division
6. Wye-Delta Transformations
Ohm’s Law (resistance)
• The ability to resist current, is known as resistance and is
represented by the symbol R.
• The resistance of any material with a uniform cross-sectional
area A depends on A and its length 𝑙.
𝒍
𝑹=𝝆
𝑨
• where 𝝆 is known as the resistivity of
the material in ohm-meters.
Ohm’s Law (resistance)
Resistivities of common materials
Ohm’s Law
• Ohm’s law states that the voltage 𝑣 across a
resistor is directly proportional to the current 𝑖
flowing through the resistor.

• Mathematical expression for Ohm’s Law is as

follows:
𝒗 = 𝒊𝑹 G eorg Si mon Ohm
• R is measured in the unit of ohms, designated Ω. (1787–1854)
German physicist
𝒗
𝑹= 1 Ω = 1 V/A
𝒊
The resistance R of an element denotes its ability to resist the flow of
electric current; it is measured in ohms Ω
Ohm’s Law (Example)
An electric iron draws 2 A at 120 V. Find its resistance.

From Ohm’s law,

𝑣 120
𝑅= = = 60Ω
𝑖 2
Ohm’s Law
• When current flow from a higher potential to a
lower potential (i.e. in the direction of voltage 𝑣 = +𝑖𝑅
drop) 𝑣 = +𝑖𝑅.

• When current flow from a lower potential to a

higher potential (i.e. in the direction of voltage rise) 𝑣 = −𝑖𝑅
𝑣 = −𝑖𝑅.
Ohm’s Law (Extreme values of R= 0 & R= )

• A short circuit is a circuit element with resistance

approaching zero.
𝑣=𝑖𝑅=0
• voltage is zero but the current could be anything.

• An open circuit is a circuit element with

resistance approaching infinity.
𝑣
𝑖 = lim =0
𝑅→∞ 𝑅

• current is zero but the voltage could be anything.

Ohm’s Law (Conductance)
• Conductance is the ability of an element to conduct electric current.
• Conductance is the reciprocal of resistance R
1 𝑖
𝐺= = ⟹ 𝑖 = 𝐺𝑣
𝑅 𝑣

• It is measured in mhos (Ʊ) or siemens (S).

1 𝑆 = 1 Ʊ = 1 𝐴/𝑉
Ohm’s Law (Power Dissipated)
• The power dissipated by a resistor can be expressed in terms of R.
𝑣2
𝑝 = 𝑣𝑖 = 𝑖2𝑅 =
𝑅
• The power dissipated by a resistor can be expressed in terms of G.
𝑖2
𝑝 = 𝑣𝑖 = 𝑣2𝐺 =
𝐺
Note:
• The power dissipated in a resistor is a nonlinear function of either current or
voltage.
• Since R and G are positive quantities, the power dissipated in a resistor is
always positive. Thus, a resistor always absorbs power from the circuit. This
confirms that a resistor is a passive element, incapable of generating energy.
Ohm’s Law (Example)
In the circuit shown in the Figure, calculate the current i, the
conductance G, and the power p.

• The current

• The conductance

• The power
or
or
NetworkTopology: Branches, Nodes,and Loops

• 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 loop is any closed path in a circuit.

• A network with b branches, n nodes, and

𝑙 independent loops will satisfy the
fundamental theorem of network topology:

𝒃= 𝒍+𝒏−𝟏
NetworkTopology: Series andParallelConnection
• Two or more elements are in series if they exclusively share a single
node and consequently carry the same current.

• Two or more elements are in parallel if they are connected to the

same two nodes and consequently have the same voltage across
them.
Ohm’s Law (Example)
Determine the number of branches and
nodes in the circuit shown in Fig. Identify
which elements are in series and which
are in parallel.

Four branches
Three nodes
The 5-Ω resistor is in series with the 10-V
voltage source
The 6-resistor is in parallel with the 2-A current source
Ohm’s Law (Example)
How many branches and nodes
does the circuit in Fig. have? Identify
the elements that are in series and
in parallel.

Five branches

Three nodes

The 1-Ω and 2-Ω resistors are in parallel.

The 4-Ω resistor and 10-V source are also in parallel.

Problems to Solve by yourself
• For the circuit shown, calculate the voltage v,
the conductance G, and the power p.
• Find the hot resistance of a light bulb rated
60W, 120 V.
• A bar of silicon is 4 cm long with a circular cross section. If the
resistance of the bar is 240Ω, what is the cross-sectional radius of
the bar?
• (a) Calculate current i in the circuit when the
switch is in position 1. (b) Find the current
when the switch is in position 2.
Problems to Solve by yourself
Determine the number of branches and nodes in the circuit
 Basic Laws:
Kirchhoff’s Law
Basic Laws

1. Ohm’s Law
2. Nodes, Branches, and Loops
3. Kirchhoff’s Laws
4. Series Resistors and Voltage Division
5. Parallel Resistors and Current Division
6. Wye-Delta Transformations
Kirchhoff’s Laws (KCL)
• Kirchhoff’s first law is based on the law of conservation
of charge, which requires that the algebraic sum of
charges within a system cannot change.
• Kirchhoff’s current law (KCL) states that the algebraic
sum of currents entering a node is zero.
𝑁

∑ 𝑖𝑛 = 0
𝑛=1
Gustav Robert
• where N is the number of branches connected to the Kirchhoff
node and n is the nth current entering or leaving the (1824–1887)
node. German physicist
Kirchhoff’s Laws (KCL)
• Currents entering a node may be regarded as positive, while currents
leaving the node may be taken as negative.
𝑁

∑ 𝑖𝑛 = 0
𝑛=1

𝑖1 + −𝑖2 + 𝑖3 + 𝑖4 + −𝑖5 = 0

𝑖1 + 𝑖3 + 𝑖4 = 𝑖2 + 𝑖5

The sum of the currents entering

a node is equal to the sum of the
currents leaving the node.
Kirchhoff’s Laws (Combining Current Sources)

• The combined or equivalent current source can be found by applying

KCL to node a.

𝐼𝑇 = 𝐼1 − 𝐼2 + 𝐼3
Kirchhoff’s Laws (KVL)
• Kirchhoff’s voltage law (KVL) states that the algebraic sum of
all voltages around a closed path or loop is zero.
𝑀

∑ 𝑣𝑚 = 0
𝑚=1

• where 𝑀 is the number of voltages in the loop and 𝑣𝑚 is the

mth voltage.
Kirchhoff’s Laws (KVL)
KVL can be applied in two ways: by taking
either a clockwise or a counterclockwise trip
around the loop. Either way, the algebraic
sum of voltages around the loop is zero.
𝑀

∑ 𝑣𝑚 = 0
𝑚=1

−𝑣1 + 𝑣2 + 𝑣3 − 𝑣4 + 𝑣5 = 0
The sign on each voltage is
𝑣2 + 𝑣3 + 𝑣5 = 𝑣1 + 𝑣4 the polarity of the terminal
encountered first as we
Sum of voltage drops = Sum of voltage rises travel around the loop.
Kirchhoff’s Laws (Combined Voltage Source)
• When voltage sources are connected in series, KVL can be applied to
obtain the total voltage. The combined voltage is the algebraic sum
of the voltages of the individual sources.

𝑉𝑎𝑏 = 𝑉1 + 𝑉2 − 𝑉3
Example 2.5
For the circuit in the Figure, find voltages 𝒗1 and 𝒗2.
Solution:
• Assume the current 𝑖 flows through the loop.
• From Ohm’s law
𝑣1 = 2𝑖 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑣2 = −3𝑖
• Applying KVL
−20 + 𝑣1 − 𝑣2 = 0
• Substituting for 𝑣1 and 𝑣2
−20 + 2𝑖 + 3𝑖 = 0 ⟹ 5𝑖 = 20 ⟹ 𝒊 = 𝟒𝑨

𝒗𝟏 = 𝟐𝒊 = 𝟖𝑽 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝒗𝟐 = −𝟑𝒊 = −𝟏𝟐𝑽

Example 2.6
Determine 𝒗o and 𝒊 in the circuit
Solution:
• Apply KVL around the loop
−12 + 4𝑖 + 2𝑣𝑜 − 4 − 𝑣𝑜 = 0 (1)
• Applying Ohm’s law to the 6-Ω resistor gives
𝑣𝑜 = −6𝑖 (2)
• Substituting Eq. (2) into Eq. (1) yields

−16 + 4𝑖 − 6𝑖 = 0 ⟹ 𝒊 = −𝟖 𝐀

∴ 𝒗𝒐= 𝟒𝟖 𝑽
Example 2.7
Find current 𝒊o and voltage 𝒗o in the circuit
Solution:
Applying KCL to node a, we obtain

3 + 0.5𝑖𝑜 = 𝑖𝑜

∴ 𝒊𝒐= 𝟔𝑨
For the 4Ω resistor, Ohm’s law gives

𝒗𝒐 = 𝟒𝒊𝒐 = 𝟐𝟒𝑽
Example 2.8
Find currents and voltages in the circuit
Solution:
• From Ohm’s law

𝑣1 = 8𝑖1 , 𝑣2 = 3𝑖2 , 𝑣3 = 6𝑖3

• At node a, KCL gives

𝑖1 − 𝑖2 − 𝑖3 = 0
• Applying KVL to loop 1
−30 + 𝑣1 + 𝑣2 = 0
30 − 3𝑖2
−30 + 8𝑖1 + 3𝑖2 = 0 ⟹ 𝑖1 =
8
Example 2.8
Applying KVL to loop 2

−𝑣2 + 𝑣3 = 0 ⟹ 𝑣3 = 𝑣2

6𝑖3 = 3𝑖2
𝑖2
𝑖3 =
2

30 − 3𝑖2 𝑖2
𝑖1 − 𝑖2 − 𝑖3 = 0 ⟹ − 𝑖2 − = 0
8 2

𝒊𝟐 = 𝟐𝑨, 𝒊𝟏 = 𝟑𝑨, 𝒊𝟑 = 𝟏𝐀, 𝒗𝟏 = 𝟐𝟒𝑽, 𝒗𝟐 = 𝟔𝑽, 𝒗𝟑 = 𝟔𝑽

Problems to Solve by yourself
• Find 𝑣1 and 𝑣2 in the circuit • Find 𝑣o and 𝑖o in the circuit

• Find the currents and voltages • Find 𝑉x in the circuit

Problems to Solve by yourself
• Calculate 𝑉1 and 𝑉2 in the circuit • Determine 𝑉o in the circuit

• Calculate 𝑣 and 𝑖x in the circuit • Determine 𝑖o in the circuit