Kirchhoff's Laws
Kirchhoff's current and voltage laws
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Kirchhoff's Current Law
Also called Kirchhoff's first law, Kirchhoff's point rule, Kirchhoff's junction rule (or nodal rule) or Kirchhoff's first rule.

At any junction in an electric circuit the total current flowing towards the junction is equal to the total current flowing away from the junction.
Kirchhoff's Current Law can be expressed as
Σ I = I1 + I2 + .. + In
= 0 (1)
where
I = currents (Amps)
As a question of convenience - current toward the junction is positive and current flowing away from the junction is negative.
Kirchhoff's Voltage Law
Also called Kirchhoff's second law, Kirchhoff's loop (or mesh) rule, or Kirchhoff's second rule.
In a closed loop in a network the sum of the voltage drops or potential differences around the loop is zero.
Kirchhoff's Voltage Law can be expressed as
Σ V = V1 + V2 + .. + Vn
= 0 (0)
where
V= voltage drop or potential difference (Volts)
In a schematic diagram voltage can be measured positive clockwise or anticlockwise.
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Related Topics
- Electrical - Amps and electrical wiring, AWG - wire gauge, electrical formulas, motors and units
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Related Documents
- Parallel Circuits - Resistors connected in parallel
- Potential Divider - Output voltage from a potential divider
- Resistance and Resistivity - Electrical resistance and resistivity
- Series Circuits - Voltage and current





