General Introduction and Verification of Ohm’s and
Kirchhoff’s Laws
Mechanical Engineering (BEng.) Degree
MEC1151 – Electrical Circuits and Analysis
29/09/22
School of Engineering
University of Glasgow
Date of Completion: 11/10/2022
Table of Contents
,Abstract ...................................................................................................................................... 3
1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 3
1.1 Equipment ............................................................................................................................. 3
2. Theoretical Background ........................................................................................................ 5
2.1 Ohm’s Law ............................................................................................................................. 5
2.2 Kirchhoff’s Laws ..................................................................................................................... 5
2.21 Kirchhoff’s Current Law ........................................................................................................ 5
2.22 Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law ........................................................................................................ 6
3. Experiment Procedures ......................................................................................................... 6
3.1. Verification of Ohm’s Law...................................................................................................... 6
3.2. Verification of Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law in Series DC Circuits .................................................... 7
3.3. Verification of Kirchhoff’s Current Law in Parallel DC Circuits ................................................. 8
3.4. Verification of Kirchhoff’s Voltage and Current Laws in Series-Parallel DC Circuits ................... 9
4. Experimental Results and Analysis ...................................................................................... 10
5. Discussion .......................................................................................................................... 19
5.1 Experimental Discussion ....................................................................................................... 19
5.2 Experimental Questions ....................................................................................................... 20
6. Conclusion.......................................................................................................................... 24
7. References ................................................................................................................................................... 25
, Abstract
The main aim of this report is to verify Ohm’s Law and Kirchhoff’s Laws by building circuits and
measuring voltages and currents. Ohm’s Law links voltage to current and resistance, whereas
Kirchhoff’s Laws deal mainly with current and voltage; Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL) and Kirchhoff’s
Voltage Law (KVL). The circuit was then analysed using the three basic laws, as well as a GPS-3033
(power supply) and a DMM. Through 4 different experiments, Ohm’s Law and Kirchhoff’s Laws were
found to be valid after comparing the results from each of the experiments.
1. Introduction
The purpose of this report is to provide verification of the three laws by conducting 4 different
experiments in both series and parallel circuits using a breadboard with jumper wires, a power
supply, a DMM, and resistors with varying resistance.
1.1 Equipment
Breadboard
The breadboard is used for building temporary circuits. The breadboard consists of two terminal
strips and two bus strips as shown in Figure 1. Each bus strip has two columns of contacts. Each of
the two columns of contacts are a node.
Figure 1: An example of a breadboard
Power Supply
For the experiments, we will be using a GPS-3033 from GW INSTEK which provides independent
voltage range of 0 to 30V and independent current range of 0 to 3A.
Figure 2: GW INSTEK GPS-3033 power supply
Kirchhoff’s Laws
Mechanical Engineering (BEng.) Degree
MEC1151 – Electrical Circuits and Analysis
29/09/22
School of Engineering
University of Glasgow
Date of Completion: 11/10/2022
Table of Contents
,Abstract ...................................................................................................................................... 3
1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 3
1.1 Equipment ............................................................................................................................. 3
2. Theoretical Background ........................................................................................................ 5
2.1 Ohm’s Law ............................................................................................................................. 5
2.2 Kirchhoff’s Laws ..................................................................................................................... 5
2.21 Kirchhoff’s Current Law ........................................................................................................ 5
2.22 Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law ........................................................................................................ 6
3. Experiment Procedures ......................................................................................................... 6
3.1. Verification of Ohm’s Law...................................................................................................... 6
3.2. Verification of Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law in Series DC Circuits .................................................... 7
3.3. Verification of Kirchhoff’s Current Law in Parallel DC Circuits ................................................. 8
3.4. Verification of Kirchhoff’s Voltage and Current Laws in Series-Parallel DC Circuits ................... 9
4. Experimental Results and Analysis ...................................................................................... 10
5. Discussion .......................................................................................................................... 19
5.1 Experimental Discussion ....................................................................................................... 19
5.2 Experimental Questions ....................................................................................................... 20
6. Conclusion.......................................................................................................................... 24
7. References ................................................................................................................................................... 25
, Abstract
The main aim of this report is to verify Ohm’s Law and Kirchhoff’s Laws by building circuits and
measuring voltages and currents. Ohm’s Law links voltage to current and resistance, whereas
Kirchhoff’s Laws deal mainly with current and voltage; Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL) and Kirchhoff’s
Voltage Law (KVL). The circuit was then analysed using the three basic laws, as well as a GPS-3033
(power supply) and a DMM. Through 4 different experiments, Ohm’s Law and Kirchhoff’s Laws were
found to be valid after comparing the results from each of the experiments.
1. Introduction
The purpose of this report is to provide verification of the three laws by conducting 4 different
experiments in both series and parallel circuits using a breadboard with jumper wires, a power
supply, a DMM, and resistors with varying resistance.
1.1 Equipment
Breadboard
The breadboard is used for building temporary circuits. The breadboard consists of two terminal
strips and two bus strips as shown in Figure 1. Each bus strip has two columns of contacts. Each of
the two columns of contacts are a node.
Figure 1: An example of a breadboard
Power Supply
For the experiments, we will be using a GPS-3033 from GW INSTEK which provides independent
voltage range of 0 to 30V and independent current range of 0 to 3A.
Figure 2: GW INSTEK GPS-3033 power supply
