1 Answer
Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL) is one of the fundamental principles in electrical engineering that deals with the flow of electric current in a circuit. It states:
"The total current entering a junction (or node) in an electrical circuit is equal to the total current leaving the junction."
In other words, the sum of all currents entering a point (node) in a circuit must equal the sum of all currents leaving that point. This is because electric charge is conserved, meaning charge cannot just disappear or appear out of nowhere.
Mathematically, if you have several currents \(I_1, I_2, I_3, \dots, I_n\) at a junction, KCL can be written as:
\[
I_{\text{in}} = I_{\text{out}}
\]
Or more commonly in the form:
\[
\sum I_{\text{in}} = \sum I_{\text{out}}
\]
Example:
If three currents are entering a node (say 5 A, 3 A, and 2 A), then the total current entering is \(5 + 3 + 2 = 10 \, \text{A}\). If two currents are leaving the node (say 6 A and 4 A), then the total current leaving is \(6 + 4 = 10 \, \text{A}\). According to KCL, the sum of currents entering and leaving should be equal.
This principle is extremely useful for analyzing circuits and solving for unknown currents in complex networks.
"The total current entering a junction (or node) in an electrical circuit is equal to the total current leaving the junction."
In other words, the sum of all currents entering a point (node) in a circuit must equal the sum of all currents leaving that point. This is because electric charge is conserved, meaning charge cannot just disappear or appear out of nowhere.
Mathematically, if you have several currents \(I_1, I_2, I_3, \dots, I_n\) at a junction, KCL can be written as:
\[
I_{\text{in}} = I_{\text{out}}
\]
Or more commonly in the form:
\[
\sum I_{\text{in}} = \sum I_{\text{out}}
\]
Example:
If three currents are entering a node (say 5 A, 3 A, and 2 A), then the total current entering is \(5 + 3 + 2 = 10 \, \text{A}\). If two currents are leaving the node (say 6 A and 4 A), then the total current leaving is \(6 + 4 = 10 \, \text{A}\). According to KCL, the sum of currents entering and leaving should be equal.This principle is extremely useful for analyzing circuits and solving for unknown currents in complex networks.