Experiment 4

Kirchhoffs Laws and Superposition

In this experiment, Kirchhoffs laws will be investigated using a more complex circuit than in the previous experiment. Two voltage sources and seven resistors are included in the circuit. Kirchhoffs voltage law will be verified for several loops of this network and Kirchhoffs current law will be verified for several nodes. Superposition will be also investigated in this experiment. Superposition states that, for a linear circuit, the effect on each individual component due to each source separately activated is algebraically summed when all sources are activated. To make the measurements: 1. Measure the resistance of each of the resistors, which will be used in the circuit with the digital ohmmeter. Enter these values into Table 1. 2. Assemble the circuit as in Figure 1. 3. Turn on the DC power supply and adjust the output voltage to about 15 V. Note the voltage obtained. Do not change this voltage.

4. Measure each of the branch voltages with the digital voltmeter and enter them into Table 1. 5. Measure the current in the R1 branch and enter this value into Table 1. 6. Reconnect the circuit as shown in Figure 2.

7. Repeat steps 4 and 5. 8. Reconnect the circuit as shown in Figure 3.

9. Repeat steps 4 and 5. 10. Turn off all the power and disassemble the circuit. 11. Add the Figure 1 and the Figure 2 voltages for each branch and calculate the percent difference of these from the Figure 3 values. 12. Fill in the first two columns of Table 2 from the Table 1 entries. Keep in mind that Vab = Vba. 13. Pick your own loop and fill in the last column in Table 2 from the Table 1 entries. 14. Calculate the sum for each of these three loops. 15. Calculate the percent error for each loop as the sum divided by the largest branch voltage in that loop times 100. 16. Pick a node and calculate all the currents flowing into it. Sum these current values. Calculate the percent error, as in step 15, from what Kirchhoffs current law says it should be. 2

Table 1. Superposition Nominal Measured value value

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Sum of Figure 1 and 2

% difference between last two columns

V1=15V V2=-5V R1=1.5K R2=1.2K R3=1.0K R4=2.2K R5=1.0K R6=2.7K R7=2.2K

V1,0= V2,0= R1= R2= R3= R4= R5= R6= R7=

V1,0= V2,0= V3,1= V5,3= V4,3= V6,5= V4,2= V6,4= V6,0= I1=

V1,0= V2,0= V3,1= V5,3= V4,3= V6,5= V4,2= V6,4= V6,0= I1=

V1,0= V2,0= V3,1= V5,3= V4,3= V6,5= V4,2= V6,4= V6,0= I1=

V1,0= V2,0= V3,1= V5,3= V4,3= V6,5= V4,2= V6,4= V6,0= I1=

Table 2. Kirchhoffs Voltage Law Loop (0,2,4,6,5,3,1,0) Loop (6,4,3,5,6) V2,0= V4,2= V6,4= V5,6= V4,6= V3,5= V3,4= V1,3= V5,3= V0,1= V6,5= Vn,m = Vn,m = % error % error

Your loop

Vn,m = % error

In your report, comment on how Kirchhoffs voltage and current laws have been verified. Comment on linearity, what does it mean, is it required for Kirchhoffs laws, is it required for superposition. Comment on how the superposition principle was verified. Comment on whether superposition holds for power in a linear circuit and verify your statements.