Chapter 3

Voltage and
Current Laws

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 The interconnection of two or more simple circuit
elements forms an electrical network.
 If the network contains at least one closed path, it is also
an electric circuit.

Note: Every circuit is a network, but not all networks are circuits
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 A point at which two or more elements have a
common connection is called a node.

 these two networks are equivalent

 there are three nodes
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 a path is a sequence of nodes, If no node was
encountered more than once.
 a loop is a closed (circular) path, If the node at
which we started is the same as the node on
which we ended.
 There are 4 loops

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 a branch is a single path in a network,
composed of one simple element and the node
at each end of that element
 there are five branches

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KCL: The algebraic sum of the currents entering
any node is zero.

iA + iB + (−iC) + (−iD) = 0
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 Current IN is zero:
iA + iB + (−iC) + (−iD) = 0

 Current OUT is zero:

(-iA )+ (-iB ) + iC + iD = 0

 Current IN=OUT:
iA+ iB = iC + iD

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Find the current through resistor R3 if it is known that
the voltage source supplies a current of 3 A.

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 Count the number of branches and nodes in the
circuit. If ix = 3 A and the 18 V source delivers 8 A of
current, what is the value of RA?

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KVL: The algebraic sum of the voltages around
any closed path is zero.

v1 + (-v2 )+ (−v3) = 0

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Sum of RISES is zero (clockwise from B):
v1 +(- v2 ) + v3 = 0

 Sum of DROPS is zero (clockwise from B):

(-v1 ) + v2 + (-v3 ) = 0

 Two paths, same

voltage (A to B):
v1 = (-v3 ) + v2
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Find vR2 (the voltage across R2) and the voltage vx.

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Find vR2 (the voltage across R2) and the voltage v2 if vR1 = 1V.

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 Identify the goal of the problem.
 Collect the known information.
 Devise a plan.
 Construct an appropriate set of equations.
 Determine if additional information is
required.
 Attempt a solution.
 Verify the solution. Is it reasonable or
expected?
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Example: find the current ix and the voltage vx

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Determine the current ix and the voltage vx

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Solve for the voltage vx and and the current ix

Begin to label the voltages and currents on the rest of the

elements in the circuit

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Solve for the voltage vx and and the current ix

Begin to label the voltages and currents on the rest of the

elements in the circuit

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 Determine the vx in the circuit?

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All of the elements in a circuit that carry the
same current are said to be connected in
series.

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Elements in a circuit having a common voltage
across them are said to be connected in
parallel.

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Calculate the power absorbed by each circuit element.

Answer:

p120V = −960 W, p30 = 1920 W

pdep = −1920 W, p15 = 960 W

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Find the voltage v and the currents i1 and i2.

Answer: v = 2 V, i1 = 60 A, and i2 = 30 A

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Determine the value of v and the power supplied by the
independent current source.

Answer: v = 14.4 V, power from current source is 345.6 mW

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Voltage sources
connected in series
can be combined
into an equivalent
voltage source:

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Current sources connected in parallel can be
combined into an equivalent current source:

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Using KVL shows:

Req = R1 + R2 + … + RN
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Find i and the power supplied by the 80 V source.

Answer: i = 3 A and p = 240 W supplied

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Using KCL shows:

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 Two resistors in parallel can be
combined using the
product / sum
shortcut.

Connecting resistors in parallel makes

the result smaller :

0.5 min(R1, R2) < R1||R2 < min(R1,R2)

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Resistors in series “share” the voltage applied to
them.

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Find vx

Answer: vx(t) = 4 sin t V

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Resistors in parallel “share” the current through
them.

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Find i3(t)

Answer: i3(t) = 1.333 sin t V

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 Our circuit models are idealizations that can
lead to apparent physical absurdities:

 Vs in parallel (a) and Is in series (c) can lead to

“impossible circuits”
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